Borrelia burgdorferi not confirmed in human-biting Amblyomma americanum ticks from the southeastern United States

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
Ellen Y StromdahlSarah A Hamer

Abstract

The predominant human-biting tick throughout the southeastern United States is Amblyomma americanum. Its ability to transmit pathogens causing Lyme disease-like illnesses is a subject of ongoing controversy. Results of previous testing by the Department of Defense Human Tick Test Kit Program and other laboratories indicated that it is highly unlikely that A. americanum transmits any pathogen that causes Lyme disease. In contrast, a recent publication by Clark and colleagues (K. L. Clark, B. Leydet, and S. Hartman, Int. J. Med. Sci. 10:915-931, 2013) reported detection of Lyme group Borrelia in A. americanum using a nested-flagellin-gene PCR. We evaluated this assay by using it and other assays to test 1,097 A. americanum ticks collected from humans. Using the Clark assay, in most samples we observed nonspecific amplification and nonrepeatability of results on subsequent testing of samples. Lack of reaction specificity and repeatability is consistent with mispriming, likely due to high primer concentrations and low annealing temperatures in this protocol. In six suspect-positive samples, Borrelia lonestari was identified by sequencing of an independent gene region; this is not a Lyme group spirochete and is not considered zoonot...Continue Reading

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Citations

Nov 26, 2015·Clinics in Laboratory Medicine·Anna M Schotthoefer, Holly M Frost
May 3, 2016·Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases·D A Hudman, N J Sargentini
Oct 4, 2015·Applied and Environmental Microbiology·Emily B CohenSarah A Hamer
Apr 24, 2017·Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases·Michael L LevinLauren B M Schumacher

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