ABSTRACT The genetic diversity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was assessed in a focus Lyme borreliosis southern Britain dominated by game birds. Ticks, rodents, and pheasants were analyzed for spirochete infections PCR targeting the 23S-5S rRNA genes, followed genotyping reverse line blot method. In questing Ixodes ricinus ticks, three genospecies B. detected, with highest prevalences found garinii valaisiana. stricto rare (<1%) all tick stages. afzelii not detected any samples. More...

The sensitivity of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato to animal sera was analyzed. Complement-mediated borreliacidal effects were observed with particular combinations host serum and genospecies. species-specific pattern viability and/or lysis is highly consistent the reservoir competence hosts for B. lato, suggesting a key role complement in global ecology Lyme borreliosis.

In nature, infected and uninfected arthropod vectors often feed together on an animal. mimicking this scenario in the laboratory, were found to acquire virus while cofeeding same host as vectors. However, vertebrate which they fed did not develop detectable levels of its blood. These observations made with Thogoto virus, influenza-like medical veterinary significance. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks used vector guinea pigs host. The results demonstrate that a is apparently refractory...

Most of the data on oral infections ticks with tick-borne encephalitis virus have been derived from experiments using animals infected by syringe inoculation. To mimic natural conditions transmission, virus-infected Ixodes ricinus (Linnaeus) or Rhipicephalus appendiculatus Neumann adults (donors) were cofed uninfected nymphs (recipients) either tick species guinea pigs. Two tick-retaining cells attached to each pig: cell 1 contained and adults, 2 nymphs. Following engorgement, 55% I. 65% R....

Blood-feeding ticks must control C activation or be damaged by the host inflammatory response. We report characterization and expression of a novel, relatively small, broad-acting inhibitory protein (termed OmCI) from soft tick Ornithodoros moubata. The native 17-kDa nonglycosylated inhibits both human guinea pig classical alternative pathways. IC50 values for each pathway were 12 27 nM, respectively, in hemolytic assays using serum diluted 40-fold. cDNA encodes 168 aa, including an 18-aa...

The skin site at which ticks attach to their hosts feed is the critical interface between tick and its host, tick-borne pathogens. This highly modified by pharmacologically active molecules secreted in saliva. For pathogens, it an ecologically privileged niche that many exploit. Such exploitation referred as saliva-activated transmission (SAT) - indirect promotion of pathogen via actions bioactive saliva on vertebrate host. Here we review evidence for SAT consider what are most likely...

Vaccines that target blood-feeding disease vectors, such as mosquitoes and ticks, have the potential to protect against many diseases caused by vector-borne pathogens. We tested ability of an anti-tick vaccine derived from a tick cement protein (64TRP) Rhipicephalus appendiculatus mice tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) transmitted infected Ixodes ricinus ticks. The has "dual action" in immunized animals: when infested with inflammatory immune responses first disrupt skin feeding site,...

Tick saliva is a complex mixture of peptidic and non-peptidic molecules that aid engorgement. The composition tick changes as feeding progresses the counters dynamic host response. Ixodid ticks such Ixodes ricinus, most important species in Europe, transmit numerous pathogens cause debilitating diseases, e.g. Lyme borreliosis tick-borne encephalitis. Tick-borne are transmitted during blood feeding; however, not simply medium enabling pathogen transfer. Instead, exploit saliva-induced...

Abstract Evidence climate change is impacting ticks and tick-borne infections generally lacking. This primarily because, in most parts of the world, there are no long-term replicated data on distribution abundance tick populations, prevalence incidence infections. Notable exceptions exist, as Canada where northeastern advance Ixodes scapularis Lyme borreliosis USA prompted establishment associated disease surveillance. As a result, past 30 years recorded encroachment spread I. across much...

We present observational and experimental evidence that cycles of the Lyme disease spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., can be maintained by sheep in virtual absence alternative hosts. A 2-year field study upland moorland habitats northwest UK established feed up to 80% larval, >99% nymphal all adult female tick ( Ixodes ricinus ) population. Infection prevalence B. questing ticks reaches over 20%, but amplification infection occurs principally as nymphs (20- 30-fold), rather than...

Abstract To overcome the inflammatory response in its host, cattle‐feeding, brown ear tick secretes histamine‐binding proteins into feeding site. These are β‐barrels with two internal binding sites: a high‐affinity ( H ) site for histamine and L which natural ligand is unknown. Here we report related protein (SHBP), secreted by rodent‐ cattle‐feeding tick, that traps both serotonin. The well conserved SHBP, whereas residue changes ‐like consistent of bulkier serotonin molecule. As key...