title: Borrelia infection in Ixodes pararicinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from northwestern Argentina.
abstract: The aim of this work was to describe for the first time the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato infecting ticks in Argentina. Unfed specimens of Ixodes pararicinus collected from vegetation in Jujuy Province were tested for Borrelia infection by PCR targeting the gene flagellin (fla), the rrfA-rrlB intergenic spacer region (IGS) and the 16S rDNA (rrs) gene. One male and one female of I. pararicinus collected in Jujuy were found to be positive to Borrelia infection with the three molecular markers tested. Phylogenetically, the Borrelia found in I. pararicinus from Jujuy belongs to the B. burgdorferi s.l complex, and it was similar to one of the genospecies detected in I. aragaoi from Uruguay. Also, this genospecies is closely related to two genospecies known from USA, Borrelia americana and the Borrelia sp. genospecies 1. The epidemiological risk that implies the infection with Borrelia in I. paracinus ticks from Argentina appears to be low because the genospecies detected is not suspected of having clinical relevance and there are no records of Ixodes ticks biting humans in the southern cone of South America. Further studies are needed to assess accurately if there is risk of borreliosis transmitted by ticks in South America.
authors: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, CP 2300 Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina. Electronic address: nava.santiago@inta.gob.ar.
authors: Santiago
authors: S
authors: Nava
authors: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Av. Prof. Orlando M. de Paiva 87, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Amalia M
authors: AM
authors: Barbieri
authors: Laboratorio de Virologia Molecular, Regional Norte-Salto, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
authors: Leticia
authors: L
authors: Maya
authors: Laboratorio de Virologia Molecular, Regional Norte-Salto, Universidad de la República, Salto, Uruguay.
authors: Rodney
authors: R
authors: Colina
authors: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CC 22, CP 2300 Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors: Atilio J
authors: AJ
authors: Mangold
authors: Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Av. Prof. Orlando M. de Paiva 87, 05508-900 São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Marcelo B
authors: MB
authors: Labruna
authors: Laboratorio de Vectores y Enfermedades Transmitidas and Departamento de Parasitología Veterinaria, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Regional Norte-Salto, Rivera 1350, CP 50000 Salto, Uruguay.
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: Venzal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Argentina; Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato