title: Infection of Siberian chipmunks (Tamias sibiricus barberi) with Borrelia sp. reveals a low reservoir competence under experimental conditions.
abstract: Reservoir competence is a key parameter in understanding the role of host species in the epidemiology of multi-host-especially vector-borne-pathogens. With this aim in view, we studied the reservoir competence of the Siberian chipmunk (Tamias sibiricus barberi) recently introduced into Europe, for the multi-host tick-borne bacteria, Borrelia burgdorferi sl, the agent of Lyme borreliosis. T. sibiricus were experimentally exposed to bites from Ixodes ricinus ticks infected with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia afzelii, with subsequent assessment of bacteremia and antibody responses. Borrelia was detected in chipmunk blood samples, ear biopsies and organ necropsies, and in nymphs used for xenodiagnosis (at one and six months after the initial chipmunk infection) via both serological and molecular methods. In total, eight out of twelve chipmunks showed evidence of infection by Borrelia sp., either by ELISA or PCR. Five chipmunks developed an immune response against the bacteria one month after infection. Borrelia infection in at least one organ was observed in seven animals at 14, 38, 93 or 178 days post-infection. Xenodiagnosis was positive for one chipmunk at 38 days, but no longer at 178 days post-infection. Four chipmunks remained uninfected, despite similar infection pressures to those observed in the field. Taken together, these results suggest that chipmunks can be infected through Borrelia-infected tick bites, and can transmit Borrelia to nymphs, but do not remain persistently infected.
authors: USC INRA Bartonella-tiques, UMR BIPAR ENVA-ANSES, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France. Electronic address: sbonnet@vet-alfort.fr.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Bonnet
authors: Institut Pasteur, CNR des Borrelia, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris cedex 15, France. Electronic address: valerie.choumet@pasteur.fr.
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Choumet
authors: Unité Epidémiologie Animale (UR INRA 346), Centre de recherche INRA de Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France. Electronic address: sebastien.masseglia@clermont.inra.fr.
authors: Sébastien
authors: S
authors: Masseglia
authors: USC INRA Bartonella-tiques, UMR BIPAR ENVA-ANSES, 94706 Maisons-Alfort, France. Electronic address: mcote@vet-alfort.fr.
authors: Martine
authors: M
authors: Cote
authors: Institut Pasteur, CNR des Borrelia, 28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris cedex 15, France. Electronic address: elisabeth.ferquel@pasteur.fr.
authors: Elisabeth
authors: E
authors: Ferquel
authors: Centre de recherches Biomédicales (CRBM), École Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, 7 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France. Electronic address: tlilin@vet-alfort.fr.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Lilin
authors: Unité Epidémiologie Animale (UR INRA 346), Centre de recherche INRA de Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France; Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: maud.marsot@anses.fr.
authors: Maud
authors: M
authors: Marsot
authors: Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO UMR7204), Sorbonne Universités, MNHN, CNRS, UPMC, CP51, 55 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France. Electronic address: chapuis@mnhn.fr.
authors: Jean-Louis
authors: JL
authors: Chapuis
authors: Unité Epidémiologie Animale (UR INRA 346), Centre de recherche INRA de Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, 63122 Saint Genès Champanelle, France. Electronic address: gvourch@clermont.inra.fr.
authors: Gwenaël
authors: G
authors: Vourc'h
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D001733:Bites and Stings; D025065:Borrelia burgdorferi / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D009758:Nymph; D012589:Sciuridae / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Ixodes ricinus; Lyme borreliosis; Reservoir competence; Siberian chipmunk