Molecular detection of a Borrelia sp. in nymphs of Amblyomma brasiliense ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Iguaçu National Park, Brazil, genetically related to Borrelia from Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire

Researchers detected a novel Borrelia species in nymphs of Amblyomma brasiliense ticks from Iguaçu National Park, Brazil. The Borrelia sequence showed 90.8% identity to strains from Côte d'Ivoire and 89.1% to those from Ethiopia, suggesting it may represent a previously undescribed species. Unlike known pathogenic Borrelia linked to Lyme borreliosis or relapsing fever, this strain appears distinct in its genetic and phylogenetic profile. The study analyzed 394 tick samples (pools of larvae/nymphs or individual adults) collected between 2015–2017, using PCR targeting the flagellin B gene (flaB). This is the first report of Borrelia in A. brasiliense ticks, raising questions about its potential ecological role and zoonotic implications.

Santos, C. A. d., Suzin, A., Vogliotti, A., Nunes, P. H., Barbieri, A. R. M., Labruna, M. B., Szabó, M. P. J., & Yokosawa, J. (2020). Molecular detection of a Borrelia sp. in nymphs of Amblyomma brasiliense ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Iguaçu National Park, Brazil, genetically related to Borrelia from Ethiopia and Côte d’Ivoire. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases, 11(6), 101519. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101519