
Bacteria of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex are the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis (LB). Even if the conventional diagnosis of LB does not rely on the species itself, an accurate species identification within the complex will provide a deepened epidemiological scenario, a better diagnosis leading to a more targeted therapeutic approach, as well as promote the general public’s awareness. A comparative genomics approach based on the 210 Borrelia spp. genomes available in 2019 were used to set up three species-specific PCR protocols, able to detect and provide species typing of Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (s.s.) and Borrelia garinii, the three most common and important human pathogenic Lyme Borrelia species in Europe. The species-specificity of these protocols was confirmed on previously identified B. afzelii, B. burgdorferi s.s. and B. garinii specimens detected in Ixodes ricinus samples. In addition, the protocols were validated on 120 DNA samples from ticks collected in Sweden, showing 88% accuracy, 100% precision, 72% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The proposed approach represents an innovative tool in epidemiological studies focused on B. burgdorferi s.l. occurrence in ticks, and future studies could suggest its helpfulness in routine diagnostic tests for health care.
570, Infectious Medicine, real time-PCR, Ixodes, [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio], Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; molecular typing; real time-PCR; Ixodes, molecular typing, 590, R, 610, Infektionsmedicin, Biological Systematics, Article, [SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio], Microbiology (Microbiology in the medical area to be 30109), <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato; molecular typing; real time-PCR; <i>Ixodes</i>, <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato, <i>Ixodes</i>, Medicine, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
570, Infectious Medicine, real time-PCR, Ixodes, [SDV]Life Sciences [q-bio], Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; molecular typing; real time-PCR; Ixodes, molecular typing, 590, R, 610, Infektionsmedicin, Biological Systematics, Article, [SDV] Life Sciences [q-bio], Microbiology (Microbiology in the medical area to be 30109), <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato; molecular typing; real time-PCR; <i>Ixodes</i>, <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato, <i>Ixodes</i>, Medicine, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 5 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
