Characterization of spirochetes isolated from ticks (Ixodes tanuki, Ixodes turdus, and Ixodes columnae) and comparison of the sequences with those of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato strains

• DOI: 10.1128/aem.62.7.2338-2344.1996
• Publication Date: 2020-01-06T18:25:03Z
• Authors: M Fukunaga; A Hamase; K Okada; H Inoue; Y Tsuruta; K Miyamoto; M Nakao
• Keywords: Ixodes persulcatus; Borrelia afzelii; Borrelia garinii; Enzootic

Ixodes persulcatus serves as a tick vector for Borrelia garinii and afzelii in Japan; however, unidentified spirochetes have been isolated from other species of ticks. In this study, 13 isolates ticks (6 tanuki, 6 turdus, 1 columnae) 3 voles (Clethrionomys rufocanus) were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism, partial sequencing the outer surface protein C (OspC) gene, whole DNA-DNA hybridization, 16S sequence comparison. All results revealed that these strains clearly represent at least two new species. A third is also likely, although additional to be before separate designated. We designated all I. tanuki C. rufocanus group Hk501 turdus Ya501. Phylogenetic analysis based on sequences distinguished those belonging hitherto known Furthermore, genomic groups, each with its own vectors enzootic cycles, quite different Lyme disease occur Japan. The comparison suggest strain Am501 columnae related Hk501, level DNA relatedness less than 70%.