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Diversity within Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in Switzerland by recA gene sequence

Casati, Simona ; Bernasconi, Marco V. ; Gern, Lise ; Piffaretti, Jean-Claude

In: FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2004, vol. 238, no. 1, p. 115-123

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    Title
    • Diversity within Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in Switzerland by recA gene sequence
    Author
    • Casati, Simona. Istituto Cantonale di Microbiologia, Via Mirasole 22A, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
    • Bernasconi, Marco V.. Istituto Cantonale di Microbiologia, Via Mirasole 22A, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
    • Gern, Lise. Institut de Zoologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Emile-Argand 11, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
    • Piffaretti, Jean-Claude. Istituto Cantonale di Microbiologia, Via Mirasole 22A, 6500 Bellinzona, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:298450
    Summary
    A total of 874 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected in Switzerland to investigate the genetic diversity of the Borrelia population. We integrated to the RT-PCR method the DNA sequence analysis of a 162-bp fragment of the recA gene. Five genospecies were detected: Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia burgdorferi s.s., Borrelia garinii, Borrelia valaisiana, and Borrelia lusitaniae. A heterogeneous distribution was observed within the B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies. The most prevalent and diverse genospecies found in Switzerland was Borrelia afzelii, which might suggest a rapid evolution of this genospecies