Isolation and genetic characterization of a relapsing fever spirochete isolated from Ornithodoros puertoricensis collected in central Panama

Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) spirochetes are likely an overlooked cause of disease in Latin America. In Panama, the pathogens were first reported to cause human disease in the early 1900s. Recent collections of Ornithodoros puertoricensis from human dwellings in Panama prompted our interest to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PLoS neglected tropical diseases 2021-08, Vol.15 (8), p.e0009642-e0009642
Main Authors: Bermúdez, Sergio E, Armstrong, Brittany A, Domínguez, Lillian, Krishnavajhala, Aparna, Kneubehl, Alexander R, Gunter, Sarah M, Replogle, Adam, Petersen, Jeannine M, Lopez, Job E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Arachnids
Biology and Life Sciences
Causes of
Collections
Distribution
Dwellings
Fever
Genes
Genetic aspects
Human diseases
Identification and classification
Laboratory animals
Medical research
Medicine and Health Sciences
Morphology
New species
Nomenclature
Ornithodoros puertoricensis
Pathogens
People and places
Phylogenetics
Public health
Relapsing fever
Research and Analysis Methods
Risk factors
Spirochetes
Tick-borne diseases
Ticks
Transmission
Tropical diseases
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Summary:Tick-borne relapsing fever (TBRF) spirochetes are likely an overlooked cause of disease in Latin America. In Panama, the pathogens were first reported to cause human disease in the early 1900s. Recent collections of Ornithodoros puertoricensis from human dwellings in Panama prompted our interest to determine whether spirochetes still circulate in the country. Ornithodoros puertoricensis ticks were collected at field sites around the City of Panama. In the laboratory, the ticks were determined to be infected with TBRF spirochetes by transmission to mice, and we report the laboratory isolation and genetic characterization of a species of TBRF spirochete from Panama. Since this was the first isolation of a species of TBRF spirochete from Central America, we propose to designate the bacteria as Borrelia puertoricensis sp. nov. This is consistent with TBRF spirochete species nomenclature from North America that are designated after their tick vector. These findings warrant further investigations to assess the threat B. puertoricensis sp. nov. may impose on human health.
ISSN:1935-2735
1935-2727
1935-2735
DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0009642