Volume: 2 Table of Contents: I. LDF: Breakthrough Study May Mean Quicker Testing & Diagnosis for Lyme Disease II. LYMENET: Researchers Seek Missouri and Illinois Ticks III. RES MICROBIOL: A new genomic species in Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolated from Japanese ticks IV. J MED ENTOMOL: Prevalence of Borrelia (Spirochaetaceae) spirochetes in Texas ticks V. J BACTERIOL: gyrB mutations in coumermycin A1-resistant Borrelia burgdorferi VI. J MED ENTOMOL: Suppression of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs in a large residential community VII. INFECT IMMUN: Tick transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to inbred strains of mice induces an antibody response to P39 but not to outer surface protein A VIII. INT J MED MICROBIOL: Seasonal distribution of borreliae in Ixodes ricinus ticks IX. INT J MED MICROBIOL: Serological distinction between syphilis and Lyme borreliosis X. How to Subscribe, Contribute, and Get Back Issues Newsletter: *********************************************************************** * The National Lyme Disease Network * * LymeNet Newsletter * *********************************************************************** IDX# Volume 2 - Number 11 - 7/14/94 IDX# INDEX IDX# IDX# I. LDF: Breakthrough Study May Mean Quicker Testing & IDX# Diagnosis for Lyme Disease IDX# II. LYMENET: Researchers Seek Missouri and Illinois Ticks IDX# III. RES MICROBIOL: A new genomic species in Borrelia IDX# burgdorferi sensu lato isolated from Japanese ticks IDX# IV. J MED ENTOMOL: Prevalence of Borrelia (Spirochaetaceae) IDX# spirochetes in Texas ticks IDX# V. J BACTERIOL: gyrB mutations in coumermycin A1-resistant IDX# Borrelia burgdorferi IDX# VI. J MED ENTOMOL: Suppression of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: IDX# Ixodidae) nymphs in a large residential community IDX# VII. INFECT IMMUN: Tick transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to IDX# inbred strains of mice induces an antibody IDX# response to P39 but not to outer surface protein A IDX# VIII. INT J MED MICROBIOL: Seasonal distribution of borreliae in IDX# Ixodes ricinus ticks IDX# IX. INT J MED MICROBIOL: Serological distinction between IDX# syphilis and Lyme borreliosis IDX# X. How to Subscribe, Contribute, and Get Back Issues IDX# QUOTE OF THE WEEK: "We at LDF highly recommend that doctors and laboratories begin using this [enhanced ELISA] test immediately." -- Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner, chair of the Board of Directors of the Lyme Disease Foundation (See Section I) I. LDF: Breakthrough Study May Mean Quicker Testing & Diagnosis for Lyme Disease ------------------------------------------------------------------ Sender: The Lyme Disease Foundation Press Release -- For Immediate Release: June 28, 1994 Contact: Marlene Ibsen (203) 525-0088 (HARTFORD) -- A study released by Dr. Steven E. Schutzer of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey may prove to be an important breakthrough in Lyme disease diagnosis and treatment. "Early and Specific Antibody Response to OspA in Lyme Disease," to be published in this week in the _Journal of Clinical Investigation_, details Dr. Schutzer's development of a test which detects a human immune system response to Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria which causes Lyme disease, as early as a few days after a tick bite occurs. The tests is a refined version of the ELISA test, which is currently used to detect immune system responses in Late Lyme patients. "This study is a major breakthrough for researchers, doctors and patients," says Karen Vanderhoof-Forschner, chair of the Board of Directors of the Lyme Disease Foundation (LDF). "Dr. Schutzer's trials show early infection, and because half of the patients tested were German, and likely were infected with a different strain of Borrelia burgdorferi that we have here in the U.S., Dr. Schutzer's version of the immune system response test is probably one of the best tools presently available for assisting doctors in diagnosing Lyme disease. Any tool that speeds the diagnosis and treatment process has the potential to help minimize the number of cases of severe infection. We at LDF highly recommend that doctors and laboratories begin using this test immediately." While Schuter's findings are important, and may lead to quick diagnosis and more effective treatment of Lyme disease, it should be understood that this test _does not prove existence of the bacteria_ in the body; it is a tool to assist in clinical diagnosis. Dr. Schutzer's test can be easily instituted by laboratories across the country which are already performing the standard ELISA test. The refinement process is not patented and is available to anyone who requests specifications on the process. =====*===== II. LYMENET: Researchers Seek Missouri and Illinois Ticks ----------------------------------------------------------- Sender: Ivone Bruno, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville Joe Mehranfar, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville We are graduate students of the Biology department of the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. Our research is a continuation of a study done in 1989 by Dr. Catherine Santanello and Dr. Dorothy Feir from Saint Louis University, which suggested the incidence of the Lyme disease etiological agent; the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in different ticks species in the Eastern Missouri area. We will attempt to identify the vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi mainly in the Illinois and Missouri states but we will include some other states. The ticks will be collected, identified, staged, and dissected. The slides will be prepared from midgut smears, and processed using the Indirect Fluorescent antibody test with H5332 as the primary monoclonal anti- Borrelia burgdorferi. By this method positive smears for Borrelia burgdorferi will be identified. In another phase of our research we will attempt to culture the spirochetes in the BSK-II medium. We would like to use this opportunity to let all the LymeNet readers know that we are interested in any ticks (alive) that you can collect for us, all we need is the date and site of collection and if it comes from any particular host. All that we request is that the ticks are placed in a closed container with a humidified swab inside. Please send it to this address: Dr. Santanello Biology Department P.O. Box 1651 SIUE, IL 62026 We will gladly accept any information or contribution that may help us with our research. If you have any questions please contact Dr. Santanello at (618) 692-2962. Thank you. =====*===== III. RES MICROBIOL: A new genomic species in Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolated from Japanese ticks ------------------------------------------------------------------ REFERENCE: Res Microbiol 1993 Jul-Aug;144(6):467-73 AUTHORS: Postic D, Belfaiza J, Isogai E, Saint Girons I, Grimont PA, Baranton G ORGANIZATION: Unite de Bacteriologie moleculaire et medicale, Institut Pasteur, Paris. ABSTRACT: Five Borrelia strains (Ika2, HO14, Cow611C, 0612 and F63B) isolated from Ixodes ovatus ticks in Japan were analysed by DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, ribotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and protein electrophoresis. DNA relatedness set these strains in a new genomic species within the Borrelia burgdorferi complex; this species appears to be restricted to Japan and could be non-pathogenic for humans. The ribotype and pulsotype of strain Ika2 were atypical of the new genomic species. =====*===== IV. J MED ENTOMOL: Prevalence of Borrelia (Spirochaetaceae) spirochetes in Texas ticks -------------------------------------------------------------- REFERENCE: J Med Entomol 1994 Mar;31(2):297-301 AUTHORS: Rawlings JA, Teltow GJ ORGANIZATION: Texas Department of Health, Austin 78756. ABSTRACT: Between 1990 and 1992, ticks from eight Texas parks were collected and analyzed to determine the prevalence of spirochete-infected ticks. Borrelia spirochetes were detected in 1.03% of 5,141 Amblyomma americanum (L.) adults examined, a species Texas residents often encounter. No spirochetes were observed in the other tick species tested. =====*===== V. J BACTERIOL: gyrB mutations in coumermycin A1-resistant Borrelia burgdorferi ---------------------------------------------------------------------- REFERENCE: J Bacteriol 1994 May;176(10):3072-5 AUTHORS: Samuels DS, Marconi RT, Huang WM, Garon CF ORGANIZATION: Laboratory of Vectors and Pathogens, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana ABSTRACT: We have isolated and characterized mutants of Borrelia burgdorferi that are resistant to the antibiotic coumermycin A1, which targets the B subunit of DNA gyrase. Mutants had either 100- or 300-fold higher resistance to coumermycin A1 than wild-type B. burgdorferi. In each case, a single point mutation in the gyrB gene converted Arg-133 to Gly or Ile. Mutations in the homologous Arg residue of Escherichia coli DNA gyrase are also associated with resistance to coumarin antimicrobial agents. =====*===== VI. J MED ENTOMOL: Suppression of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs in a large residential community ----------------------------------------------------------------------- REFERENCE: J Med Entomol 1994 Mar;31(2):206-11 AUTHORS: Schulze TL, Jordan RA, Vasvary LM, Chomsky MS, Shaw DC, Meddis MA, Taylor RC, Piesman J ORGANIZATION: Division of Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Health, New Jersey State Department of Health, Trenton ABSTRACT: To determine the feasibility of suppressing Ixodes scapularis Say populations in a large, hyperendemic residential community, several rates of granular carbaryl were applied by ground and air to the shrub layer and wooded buffers of a forested residential community during the peak activity period of nymphs. Granular carbaryl significantly reduced the abundance of I. scapularis nymphs on Peromyscus leucopus Raphinesque. Control nymphal ticks ranged between 70.0 and 90.3%. The use of properly timed acaricide applications to I. scapularis habitat within residential communities can provide an effective means of reducing exposure to I. scapularis nymphs, which are chiefly responsible for transmitting Borrelia burgdorferi to humans. =====*===== VII. INFECT IMMUN: Tick transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi to inbred strains of mice induces an antibody response to P39 but not to outer surface protein A --------------------------------------------------------------------- REFERENCE: Infect Immun 1994 Jun;62(6):2625-7 AUTHORS: Golde WT, Kappel KJ, Dequesne G, Feron C, Plainchamp D, Capiau C, Lobet Y ORGANIZATION: Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, Fort Collins, Colorado ABSTRACT: Natural tick transmission of infection by Borrelia burgdorferi induces a very different serum antibody response than needle inoculation of spirochetes. We present data, obtained by using the mouse model, that show that the OspA response was barely detectable, whereas all animals developed significant anti-P39 titers after exposure to B. burgdorferi- infected ticks. =====*===== VIII. INT J MED MICROBIOL: Seasonal distribution of borreliae in Ixodes ricinus ticks ----------------------------------------------------------------- REFERENCE: Int J Med Microbiol Virol Parasitol Infect Dis 1994 Jan;280(3):423-31 AUTHORS: Hubalek Z, Halouzka J, Juricova Z, Svobodova S ORGANIZATION: Institute of Systematic and Ecological Biology, Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic ABSTRACT: Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected by flagging vegetation of a mixed oak forest in South Moravia (Czech Republic) at regular two-month intervals from March 1991 to March 1992 and examined for borreliae by darkfield microscopy. Mean annual proportions of infected ticks were 17.2% (15.4% to 21.2% monthly) in females (F), 18.6% (11.8% to 25.9%) in males (M), and 16.3% (12.4% to 20.9%) in nymphs (N); the differences among monthly values were insignificant. However, monthly proportions of intensively infected ticks containing more than 100 borreliae fluctuated widely, from 0.0% to 7.7% (annual mean 3.3%) in F, from 0.0% to 5.6% (mean 2.4%) in M, and from 0.0% to 5.7% (mean 1.9%) in N; the differences among months were significant, and the peak prevalence values were found in July (F, M) or November (N). Mean numbers of borreliae per infected tick reached their peak in September for both adult and nymphal ticks while they were generally low in spring. The highest risk of infection with tick-borne borreliae for vertebrates (including man) occurred in the study area during the month of July; in that month, one either female or nymphal I. ricinus containing more than 100 borreliae was encountered, on the average, every 92 minutes of flagging. =====*===== IX. INT J MED MICROBIOL: Serological distinction between syphilis and Lyme borreliosis ------------------------------------------------------------------- REFERENCE: Int J Med Microbiol Virol Parasitol Infect Dis 1994 Jan;280(3):319-24 AUTHORS: Rath PM, Marsch WC, Brade V, Fehrenbach F ORGANIZATION: Department of Microbiology, Universitatskilinikum Rudolf Virchow, Berlin Germany. ABSTRACT: The serological distinction of an immune response to the agent of syphilis, Treponema (T.) pallidum, and Lyme disease borreliae is difficult due to the existence of cross-reacting antibodies. In this study, the immunoblot technique is used to compare the immune response of sera from patients with syphilis or Lyme borreliosis to either T. pallidum or Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi. Patients with syphilis showed an IgG response to the 17 and 15 kDa antigens of T. pallidum, whereas sera from patients with Lyme borreliosis -- especially in late stages of the disease -- reacted with the 95 and 19-17 kDa antigens of B. burgdorferi. Thus, IgG antibodies against low molecular weight antigens of T. pallidum (17, 15 kDa) or B. burgdorferi (19-17 kDa) may represent useful markers for the serological diagnosis of syphilis or Lyme borreliosis. =====*===== X. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE, CONTRIBUTE AND GET BACK ISSUES ------------------------------------------------------ SUBSCRIPTIONS: Anyone with an Internet address may subscribe. 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