Wide distribution of a high-virulence Borrelia burgdorferi clone in Europe and North America.
The A and B clones of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, distinguished by outer surface protein C (ospC) gene sequences, are commonly associated with disseminated Lyme disease. To resolve phylogenetic relationships among isolates, we sequenced 68 isolates from Europe and North America at 1 chromosomal locus (16S-23S ribosomal RNA spacer) and 3 plasmid loci (ospC,dbpA, and BBD14). The ospC-A clone appeared to be highly prevalent on both continents, and isolates of this clone were uniform in DNA sequences, which suggests a recent trans-oceanic migration. The genetic homogeneity of ospC-A isolates was confirmed by sequences at 6 additional chromosomal housekeeping loci (gap, alr, glpA, xylB, ackA, and tgt). In contrast, the ospC-B group consists of genotypes distinct to each continent, indicating geographic isolation. We conclude that the ospC-A clone has dispersed rapidly and widely in the recent past. The spread of the ospC-A clone may have contributed, and likely continues to contribute, to the rise of Lyme disease incidence.
Qiu
Wei-Gang
WG
Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA.
Bruno
John F
JF
McCaig
William D
WD
Xu
Yun
Y
Livey
Ian
I
Schriefer
Martin E
ME
Luft
Benjamin J
BJ
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D040961:Genetic Drift; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D009656:North America / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; C079616:OspC protein; D037521:Virulence Factors