Salivary gland extract from engorged Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) stimulates in vitro growth of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.
In vitro effect of salivary gland extract from fed Ixodes ricinus, the competent vector of Lyme borreliosis in Europe, on the growth of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (B. garinii, B. afzelii and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto) was examined in BSK-H medium. Motility rate, concentration of motile spirochetes and their morphology were estimated at intervals of 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days using darkfield microscopy. Salivary gland extract derived from I. ricinus stimulated markedly the growth of three genomic species of borreliae. The results confirm a substantial role of salivary glands in the mechanism of pathogen transmission to vertebrate host.
Medical Zoology Laboratory, Institute of Vertebrate Biology, vvi, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Brno, Czech Republic.
Ivo
I
Rudolf
Silvie
S
Sikutová
Jan
J
Kopecký
Zdenek
Z
Hubálek
D000818:Animals; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D002457:Cell Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018884:Ixodes; D008124:Locomotion; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008853:Microscopy; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000737:chemistry
D002457:Cell Extracts; D003470:Culture Media; D006133:Growth Substances