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In a nationwide, matched cohort study, we aimed to investigate risks of hematologic cancers among individuals tested for Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb) antibodies, and among serum Bb seropositive individuals.

by Andrea M. Kirby, Ellis P. Evans, Samantha J. Bishop, Vett K. Lloyd Tick populations are dependent on a complex interplay of abiotic and biotic influences, many of which are influenced by anthropic factors including climate change. Dermacentor variabilis, the wood tick or American dog tick, is a hardy tick species that feeds from a wide range of mammals and birds that can transmit pathogens of medical and agricultural importance. Significant range expansion across North America has been occurring over the past decades;this study documents northwards range expansion in the Canadian Maritime provinces. Tick recoveries from passive surveillance between 2012 and 2021 were examined to assess northward population expansion through Atlantic Canada. At the beginning of this period, D. variabilis was abundant in the most southerly province, Nova Scotia, but was not considered established in the province to the north, New Brunswick. During the 10-year span covered by this study, an increasing number of locally acquired ticks were recovered in discrete foci, suggesting small established or establishing populations in southern and coastal New Brunswick. The pattern of population establishment follows the climate-driven establishment pattern of Ixodes scapularis to some extent but there is also evidence of successful seeding of disjunct populations in areas identified as sub-optimal for tick populations. Dogs were the most common host from which these ticks were recovered, which raises the possibility of human activity, via movement of companion animals, having a significant role in establishing new populations of this species. Dermacentor variabilis is a vector of several pathogens of medical and agricultural importance but is not considered to be a competent vector for Borrelia burgdorferi, the etiological agent of Lyme disease; our molecular analysis of a subset of D. variabilis for both B. burgdorferi and B. miyamotoi did not confirm any with Borrelia. This study spans the initial establishment of this tick species and documents the pattern of introduction, providing a relatively unique opportunity to examine the first stages of range expansion of a tick species.

by Samir Mechai, Heather Coatsworth, Nicholas H. Ogden The outer surface protein C (OspC) of the agent of Lyme disease, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, is a major lipoprotein surface-expressed during early-phase human infections. Antibodies to OspC are used in serological diagnoses. This study explored the hypothesis that serological test sensitivity decreases as genetic similarity of ospC major groups (MGs) of infecting strains, and ospC A (the MG in the strain B31 used to prepare antigen for serodiagnosis assays) decreases. We used a previously published microarray dataset to compare serological reactivity to ospC A (measured as pixel intensity) versus reactivity to 22 other ospC MGs, within a population of 55 patients diagnosed by two-tier serological testing using B. burgdorferi s.s. strain B31 as antigen, in which the ospC MG is OspC A. The difference in reactivity of sera to ospC A and reactivity to each of the other 22 ospC MGs (termed ‘reactivity difference’) was the outcome variable in regression analysis in which genetic distance of the ospC MGs from ospC A was the explanatory variable. Genetic distance was computed for the whole ospC sequence, and 9 subsections, from Neighbour Joining phylogenetic trees of the 23 ospC MGs. Regression analysis was conducted using genetic distance for the full ospC sequence, and the subsections individually. There was a significant association between the reactivity difference and genetic distance of ospC MGs from ospC A: increased genetic distance reduced reactivity to OspC A. No single ospC subsection sequence fully explained the relationship between genetic distance and reactivity difference. An analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms supported a biological explanation via specific amino acid modifications likely to change protein binding affinity. This adds support to the hypothesis that genetic diversity of B. burgdorferi s.s. (here specifically OspC) may impact serological diagnostic test performance. Further prospective studies are necessary to explore the clinical implications of these findings.

Volume 14, Issue 1, December 2023 .

Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most common tick-transmitted infection on the northern hemisphere and is caused by bacteria in the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl)-complex. The diagnosis is partially based on serology and clinicians often take follow-up serum samples to look for seroconversion or an increase in IgG-antibody levels. In this registry-based study, we proposed a method for determining actual changes in IgG and examined antibody reactivity and decay.

Ongoing surveillance will improve understanding of the incidence, clinical severity, and public health role of this emerging disease. …

by Dashdavaa Ganbold, Bayarsaikhan Uudus, Naranbat Nyamdavaa, Yeruult Chultemsuren, Amarbayasgalan Zagd, Mungunzaya Tangad, Agarzandan Bayarmaa, Rolomjav Lkunrev, Uyanga Baasandagva, Tsogbadrakh Nyamdorj, Myadagsuren Narankhajid Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Rickettsia spp. are worldwide causes of tick-borne infections. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against different tick-borne diseases (TBDs) and determine risk factors among Mongolians from 2016 to 2020. Blood samples were obtained from voluntary participants with a history of suspected tick bite who visited our hospital, and IgG antibodies against Rickettsia and Borrelia were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IgG antibody seropositivity rate against Rickettsia was 21.8% (1032/4724), while 3.4% (162/4724) of participants tested positive for serum IgG antibodies against Borrelia by ELISA.Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors for tick-borne rickettsiosis (TBR) and tick-borne borreliosis (TBB) using IgG serum sample. Age, occupation, and residence were significantly associated with these diseases; however, sex did not show any significant association. Seroprevalence was significantly higher among herders (40.6%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 35.5–45.8; odds ratio [OR] 0.61; P < 0.001) and students (32.8%, 95% CI: 30.2–35.4; OR 0.75; P < 0.001) than among individuals with other occupations. The 25–29 age group had a slightly higher seroprevalence (35.1%, 95% CI: 28.1–42.6; OR 0.61; P < 0.006) than those in other age groups. Province was a stronger predictor of TBR than occupation and age group. In univariate subgroup analysis by age group, occupation, and residence were significantly associated with TBR seroprevalence, whereas age and province were associated with TBB seroprevalence. Thus, risk factors for TBD include residence, occupation, and age group. This study was conducted using samples from all Mongolian provinces and the capital city, and the risk factors and prevalence of Rickettsia and Borreliaare highlighted.

by Ivar Tjernberg, Malin Lager, Guro Furset Jensen, Randi Eikeland, Dag Nyman, Lars Brudin, Anna J. Henningsson Objectives Lyme serology does not readily discriminate an active Lyme borreliosis (LB) from a previous Borrelia infection or exposure. Here, we aimed to investigate a large number of immunological protein biomarkers to search for an immunological pattern typical for active LB, in contrast to patterns found in healthy blood donors, a proportion of whom were previously exposed to Borrelia. Methods Serum samples from well-characterised adult patients with ongoing LB and healthy blood donors were included and investigated using a proximity extension assay (provided by Olink®) by which 92 different immune response-related human protein biomarkers were analysed simultaneously. Results In total, 52 LB patients and 75 healthy blood donors were included. The blood donors represented both previously Borrelia exposed (n = 34) and not exposed (n = 41) based on anti-Borrelia antibody status. Ten of the examined 92 proteins differed between patients and blood donors and were chosen for further logistic regression (p…

Lyme borreliosis is the most prevalent vector-borne disease in Europe and North America [1]; an estimated ≈232,000 cases in Western Europe [2] and ≈476,000 cases in the US [3] are diagnosed per year and erythema migrans is its most frequent clinical presentation, occurring in ≥80% of cases [1,4]. In solitary erythema migrans (SEM), the skin manifestation remains localised to the site of inoculation of borreliae, whereas multiple erythema migrans (MEM) represent hematogenous dissemination of borreliae, which may occur in 13.4% to 27% of US cases [5‒7] and less frequently (up to 7%) in Europe [4,6].