title: First Detection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA in Serum of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa) in Northern Portugal by Nested-PCR.
abstract: Lyme borreliosis is the most common tick-borne zoonosis in the northern hemisphere. Several vertebrates are crucial in the epidemiological cycle of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, but the role of wild boar as a reservoir is still unknown. Sera were collected from 90 wild boars shot in the Trás-os-Montes region, Northern Portugal (hunting season 2011/2012). In this study, Borrelia DNA was detected for the first time by nested-PCR in three different sera, suggesting that the wild boar may be a potential reservoir for this spirochete. Sequencing results show 100% similarity with Borrelia afzelii. Further studies are needed to evaluate the public health risks associated with boar hunting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, P.O. Box 1013, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Faria
authors.forename: Maria das Neves
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Paiva-Cardoso
authors.forename: Mónica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Carreira
authors.forename: Hélia M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Vale-Gonçalves
authors.forename: Octávia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Veloso
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: João A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Madalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vieira-Pinto
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Vieira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology*; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial