Infection of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in North Africa

Authors

Elyes Zhioua, University of Rhode Island
Ali Bouattour, Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis
Chang Min Hu, Université de Neuchâtel
Mohamed Gharbi, Université de Tunis El Manar, Institut Pasteur de Tunis
Andre Aeschliman, Université de Neuchâtel
Howard S. Ginsberg, University of Rhode Island
Lise Gern, Université de Neuchâtel

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1999

Abstract

Free-living adult Ixodes ricinus L. were collected in Amdoun, situated in the Kroumiry mountains in northwestern Tunisia (North Africa). Using direct fluorescence antibody assay, the infection rate of field-collected I. ririnus by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was 30.5% (n = 72). No difference in infection rate was observed between male and female ticks. Spirochetes that had been isolated from I. ririnus from Ain Drahim (Kroumiry Mountains) in 1988 were identified as Borrelia lusitaniae (formerly genospecies PotiB2). This is the first identification of a genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from the continent of Africa.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Medical Entomology

Volume

36

Issue

2

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Zhioua, Elyes, Ali Bouattour, Chang Min Hu, Mohamed Gharbi, Andre Aeschliman, Howard S. Ginsberg, and Lise Gern. "Infection of Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in North Africa." Journal of Medical Entomology 36, 2 (1999). doi: 10.1093/jmedent/36.2.216.