title: Ability to cause erythema migrans differs between Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lyme borreliosis is a tick-borne disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. The variety of characteristic and non-specific clinical manifestations is partially explained by its genetic diversity. We investigated the ability of B. burgdorferi sl isolates to cause erythema migrans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The genetic constellation of isolates from ticks was compared to isolates found in erythema migrans. PCR and sequence analysis was performed on the plasmid-encoded ospC and the chromosomal 5S-23S rDNA spacer region (IGS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven different B. burgdorferi sl genospecies were identified in 152 borrelia isolates from ticks and erythema migrans biopsies. B afzelii (51%) and B. garinii (27%) were the most common in ticks. From the 44 sequences obtained from erythema migrans samples 42 were B. afzelii, one B. garinii and one B. bavariensis. Significant associations with erythema migrans formation were found for four IGS and two ospC types. Five from 45 ospC types were associated with more than one genospecies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  B. burgdorferi sl isolates differ in their propensity to cause erythema migrans. These differences were also found within genospecies. In other words, although B. afzelii was mostly associated with erythema migrans, some B. afzelii isolates had a low ability to cause erythema migrans. Our data further support the occurrence of plasmid exchange between borrelia genospecies under natural conditions.
authors: Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P,O, Box 1, 3720BA, Bilthoven, Netherlands. Ellen.TijsseKlasen@gmail.com
authors: Ellen
authors: E
authors: Tijsse-Klasen
authors: Nenad
authors: N
authors: Pandak
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Hengeveld
authors: Katsuhisa
authors: K
authors: Takumi
authors: Marion P G
authors: MP
authors: Koopmans
authors: Hein
authors: H
authors: Sprong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D001706:Biopsy; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D005929:Glossitis, Benign Migratory / Q000469:parasitology*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D026863:Ixodidae / Q000469:parasitology; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000469:parasitology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; C079616:OspC protein