First Molecular Detection and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme disease spirochete) in Egyptian rodents
Ghafar, M., Saleh, A., Badawi, A., Abd El-Aty, A. (2011). First Molecular Detection and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme disease spirochete) in Egyptian rodents. EKB Journal Management System, 59(3), 117-128. doi: 10.21608/vmjg.2011.368236
M Ghafar; A Saleh; A Badawi; A Abd El-Aty. "First Molecular Detection and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme disease spirochete) in Egyptian rodents". EKB Journal Management System, 59, 3, 2011, 117-128. doi: 10.21608/vmjg.2011.368236
Ghafar, M., Saleh, A., Badawi, A., Abd El-Aty, A. (2011). 'First Molecular Detection and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme disease spirochete) in Egyptian rodents', EKB Journal Management System, 59(3), pp. 117-128. doi: 10.21608/vmjg.2011.368236
Ghafar, M., Saleh, A., Badawi, A., Abd El-Aty, A. First Molecular Detection and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme disease spirochete) in Egyptian rodents. EKB Journal Management System, 2011; 59(3): 117-128. doi: 10.21608/vmjg.2011.368236

First Molecular Detection and characterization of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Lyme disease spirochete) in Egyptian rodents

Veterinary Medical Journal (Giza)
Volume 59, Issue 3, July 2011, Page 117-128  XML PDF (1.93 MB)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/vmjg.2011.368236
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Authors
M Ghafar* 1; A Saleh2; A Badawi3; A Abd El-Aty4
1Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, KSA.
2Department of Plant Protection, King Saud University, KSA.
3Biochemistry Division, National Organization for Drug Control and Research, Egypt.
4Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Abstract
This study was intended to molecularly detect and characterize Borrelia burgdorferi senau lato in Egyptian rodents as an initial step in reservoir competence studies. A total of 30 rodents (26 Rattus norvegicus and 4 Rattus rattus) were caught at different areas in Giza Governorate, Egypt. EDTA-whole blood was collected and tested for the presence of spirochetal DNA using ospA targeting-PCR, and specific amplicons were then subjected to bidirectional sequencing. Positive amplification of 307-bp fragment was detected in 5 (19.2%) R. norvegicus (brown or Norway rat), while no borrelial DNA was evident in R. rattus (black rat). DNA sequence of the detected strain, designated as Borrelia burgdorferi Ghafar, was deposited in the GenBank under accession no. FJ968724. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis showed that Ghafar strain belongs to B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (99.6%- 100% similarity) and clearly distinguishable from other B. burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies. These results provide the first molecular report addressing existence of B. burgdorferi sensu stricto in Rattus norvegicus in the country, suggesting that this murine host may act as a reservoir for Lyme disease agent.
Keywords
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato; Rodents; Rattus norvegicus; Rattus rattus; PCR; Molecular characterization; Egypt
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