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Molecular characterization ofBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from Slovenia revealing significant differences between tick and human isolates

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Abstract

One hundred twenty-nine Slovenian isolates ofBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato derived from patients (69 strains) orIxodes ricinus ticks (60 strains) were characterized. All of the strains were first- or second-passage isolates obtained in 1992 and 1993 from the same endemic region. The techniques used for the molecular analysis of strains included species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) typing, and pulsed-field gel electrophoretic separation of undigested andMlul-digested genomic DNA. Isolates were identified to the species level by large restriction fragment pattern (LRFP) analysis and the results compared with the species-specific PCR result. Fifty-two patient isolates (75%) were typed asBorrelia afzelii (LRFP MLa1), 6 (9%) asBorrelia garinii (LRFPs MLg1–4), and 11 (16%) asBorrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. The latter included 9 isolates (13%) with a new LRFP that is not typical ofBorrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and for which the designation MLx is suggested. In contrast, only 32 of 60 (53%) tick isolates were typed asBorrelia afzelii, while 20 strains (33%) were typed asBorrelia garinii and 8 strains (13%) asBorrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Three new LRFPs were found among theBorrelia garinii (MLg5 and 6) andBorrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (MLb15) tick isolates. Large restriction fragment pattern analysis identified new groups ofBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and revealed an apparent difference in the isolation frequency of different species from patients and ticks in the same endemic region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Infectious Disease, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, 600 South Paulina, 60612, Chicago, IL, USA

    R. N. Picken, Y. Cheng, D. Han, J. A. Nelson & G. M. Trenholme

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre, Japljeva 2, 61000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    F. Strle, J. Cimperman, V. Maraspin & S. Lotric-Furlan

  3. Institute of Microbiology, University of Ljubljana, Zaloska 4, 61105, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    E. Ruzic-Sabljic

  4. Department of Pathology, Building 110, Room 2242, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, 60153, Maywood, IL

    M. M. Picken

  5. Hines Veterans' Administration Hospital, P.O. Box 5000, 60141, Hines, IL, USA

    M. M. Picken

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  1. R. N. Picken
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  2. Y. Cheng
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  3. F. Strle
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  4. J. Cimperman
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  6. S. Lotric-Furlan
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  9. J. A. Nelson
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  11. G. M. Trenholme
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Picken, R.N., Cheng, Y., Strle, F. et al. Molecular characterization ofBorrelia burgdorferi sensu lato from Slovenia revealing significant differences between tick and human isolates. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 15, 313–323 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695664

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