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- Title
Diversity and distribution of the tick-borne relapsing fever spirochete Borrelia turicatae.
- Authors
Krishnavajhala, Aparna; Armstrong, Brittany A.; Kneubehl, Alexander R.; Gunter, Sarah M.; Piccione, Julie; Kim, Hee J.; Ramirez, Rosa; Castro-Arellano, Ivan; Roachell, Walter; Teel, Pete D.; Lopez, Job E.
- Abstract
Borrelia turicatae is a causative agent of tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) in the subtropics and tropics of the United States and Latin America. Historically, B. turicatae was thought to be maintained in enzootic cycles in rural areas. However, there is growing evidence that suggests the pathogen has established endemic foci in densely populated regions of Texas. With the growth of homelessness in the state and human activity in city parks, it was important to implement field collection efforts to identify areas where B. turicatae and its vector circulate. Between 2017 and 2020 we collected Ornithodoros turicata ticks in suburban and urban areas including public and private parks and recreational spaces. Ticks were fed on naïve mice and spirochetes were isolated from the blood. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was performed on eight newly obtained isolates and included previously reported sequences. The four chromosomal loci targeted for MLST were 16S ribosomal RNA (rrs), flagellin B (flaB), DNA gyrase B (gyrB), and the intergenic spacer (IGS). Given the complexity of Borrelia genomes, plasmid diversity was also evaluated. These studies indicate that the IGS locus segregates B. turicatae into four genomic types and plasmid diversity is extensive between isolates. Furthermore, B. turicatae and its vector have established endemic foci in parks and recreational areas in densely populated settings of Texas. Author summary: In the Americas, the range and genetic diversity of tick-borne relapsing fever spirochetes remains poorly defined. Borrelia turicatae is the predominant species in the southwestern and eastern portions of the United States and to Latin America, and recent studies suggests the pathogens and their vectors have established endemic foci in highly populated areas of the United States. Given the rate of urban growth and the incorporation of green spaces into large cities, this study supports previous work suggesting the expansion of B. turicatae.
- Subjects
TEXAS; UNITED States; RELAPSING fever; BORRELIA; SPIROCHETES; PUBLIC spaces; GENETIC variation
- Publication
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2021, Vol 15, Issue 11, p1
- ISSN
1935-2727
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1371/journal.pntd.0009868