Author/Editor		Burgdorfer, W
Title		Lyme borreliosis: of ticks and spirochetes
Type		članek
Source		Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannon Adriat
Vol. and No.		Letnik 5, št. 3-4
Publication year		1996
Volume		str. 87-92
Language		eng
Abstract		Lyme disease is now recognized as the most prevalent tick-borne spirochetosis in North America, Europe and in many Asien countries, especially Japan. Its global occurrence coincides with the geographic distribution of ticks belonging to the Ixodes ricinus/persulcatus complex. In this complex, four species, Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes scapularis, and Ixodes pacificus are recognized as efficient vectors of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. At least ten additional species of ixodid ticks have been found occasionally infected, but of these only three, namely Ixodes ovatus from Japan, Ixodes holocyclus from Australia and Amblyomma americanum from the U.S.A., appear to be associated with Lyme disease in humans; the remaining seven ticks usually do not attack humans, but are important in maintaining natural foci in which Lyme disease spirochetes persist. Special attention is given to Ixodes uriae, a bird tick that maintains Borrelia burgdorferi among seabirds in Sweden. On the basis of DNA homology, rRNA gene restriction patterns, and immunological reactivities, Borrelia burgdorferi has been classified into several gene species. Their distribution and possible relationship to clinical manifestations of Lyme disease will be discussed. It is speculated that ongoing and future tick/spirochete surveys will discover additional distinct gene types of Borrelia burgdorferi as well as hitherto underscribed spirochetes.
Descriptors		LYME DISEASE BORRELIA BURGDORFERI ARACHNID VECTORS TICKS EUROPE ASIA NORTH AMERICA