HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Nakao, M. Articles by Fujita, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Nakao, M. Articles by Fujita, H.

Characterization of Borrelia Burgdorferi Isolated from Ixodes Persulacatus and Ixodes Ovatus Ticks in Japan

The Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi was detected in the adult stage of the ixodid ticks Ixodes persulcatus and I. ovatus collected in various localities in Japan. The total prevalence values were 16.6% of 777 I. persulcatus and 23.6% of 687 I. ovatus. Sixty-two (63.9%) of 97 isolates from I. persulcatus contained the 30–34-kD heterogeneous outer surface protein A (OspA) that reacted with monoclonal antibody H5332. In contrast, all 128 isolates from I. ovatus were homogeneous with regard to the type of 30-kD OspA protein, and were different from the I. persulcatus isolates in their protein composition. These data suggest that the transmission cycle of B. burgdorferi in I. ovatus is not related to that in I. persulcatus. No cases of Lyme disease transmitted by I. ovatus have been confirmed in Japan, in spite of the abundance of human tick bites by this species. Accordingly, the spirochetes of I. ovatus are thought to be a variant of B. burgdorferi with low virulence.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. Barbour and D Fish The biological and social phenomenon of Lyme disease Science, June 11, 1993; 260(5114): 1610 - 1616. [Abstract] [PDF]