The Presence of Borrelia miyamotoi, A Relapsing Fever Spirochaete, in Questing Ixodes ricinus in Belgium and in The Netherlands. (12th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cochez, C.; Heyman, P.; Heylen, D.; Fonville, M.; Hengeveld, P.; Takken, W.; Simons, L.; Sprong, H.
• Is Part Of: Zoonoses and public health. Volume 62:Number 5(2015)
• Page Start: 331
• Page End: 333
• Publication Date: 2014-09-12
• Subjects: Zoonoses -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; 636.0896959
• DOI: 10.1111/zph.12154
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1863-1959

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="zph12154-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p> <italic>Borrelia miyamotoi</italic> is a tick‐borne bacterium that may cause relapsing fever in humans. As this pathogen has been discovered in Europe only recently, only little is known about its local impact on human health and its spatial distribution. In this study, we show the results of PCR screenings for <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> in flagged <italic>Ixodes ricinus</italic> from Belgium and the Netherlands. <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> was detected in nine of thirteen, and three of five locations from the Netherlands and Belgium, respectively. These outcomes indicate that <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> is more spread than previously thought. The mean infection rate <italic>B. miyamotoi</italic> was 1.14% for Belgium and 3.84% for the Netherlands.</p> </abstract>