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 Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend 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 CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by RUZIC-SABLJIC, E. Articles by STRLE, F. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by RUZIC-SABLJIC, E. Articles by STRLE, F. Agricola Articles by RUZIC-SABLJIC, E. Articles by STRLE, F.

Genotypic and phenotypic characterisation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato strains isolated from human blood

E. RUI-SABLJI, M. ARNE^*, S. LOTRI-FURLAN^*, V. MARASPIN^*, J. CIMPERMAN^* and F. STRLE^*

Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty Ljubljana, Zaloka 4 and *Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre, Japljeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Corresponding author: Dr E. Rui-Sablji.

Received 15 Dec. 2000; revised version received 1 May 2001; accepted 3 May 2001.

Abstract

Lyme borreliosis often presents initially with erythema migrans. Borreliae may disseminate from the primary skin lesion, and different organs and systems could be affected. Borrelia strains were isolated from blood of 70 patients with Lyme borreliosis, including 10 patients from whom borreliae were also isolated from skin. The aim of the present study was to characterise the isolates with regard to their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Borreliae were cultivated in MKP medium. Species identification and plasmid profiles were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and protein profiles by SDS-PAGE. Digestion of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA showed 63 (90%) B. afzelii Mla1 and 7 (10%) B. garinii Mlg2. No B. burgdorferi sensu stricto were isolated. Borreliae were isolated from both skin and blood of 10 patients, nine pairs of isolates were identical: seven B. afzelii and two B. garinii. B. afzelii was isolated from the skin and B. garinii from blood of the tenth patient. All but one isolate possessed at least one large plasmid and varying numbers of"smaller plasmids. Eight (11.4%) of 70 isolates possessed an unusual plasmid profile (2 of 63 B. afzelii and 6 of 7 B. garinii). Borreliae differed in their protein profiles. OspA and OspB proteins were expressed by all B. afzelii isolates; 85.7% of B. garinii isolates expressed OspA and 71.4% expressed OspB. OspC was expressed by 65% of B. afzelii isolates and all B. garinii isolates. The ratios of B. afzelii and B. garinii isolated from blood and skin were similar. These results do not support the hypothesis that B. garinii has a higher propensity for haematogenous dissemination than B. afzelii. Antigen diversity as well as species and plasmid heterogeneity could play a role in the pathogenesis of the infection, suggesting distinctive strain organotropism.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				E. Ruzic-Sabljic, M. Arnez, M. Logar, V. Maraspin, S. Lotric-Furlan, J. Cimperman, and F. Strle Comparison of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Strains Isolated from Specimens Obtained Simultaneously from Two Different Sites of Infection in Individual Patients J. Clin. Microbiol., May 1, 2005; 43(5): 2194 - 2200. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-P. Hunfeld, E. Ruzic-Sabljic, D. E. Norris, P. Kraiczy, and F. Strle In Vitro Susceptibility Testing of Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato Isolates Cultured from Patients with Erythema Migrans before and after Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., April 1, 2005; 49(4): 1294 - 1301. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Godfroid, C. Min Hu, P.-F. Humair, A. Bollen, and L. Gern PCR-Reverse Line Blot Typing Method Underscores the Genomic Heterogeneity of Borrelia valaisiana Species and Suggests Its Potential Involvement in Lyme Disease J. Clin. Microbiol., August 1, 2003; 41(8): 3690 - 3698. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]