Molecular detection of reptile-associated Borrelia in Boa constrictor (Squamata: Boidae) from Veracruz, Mexico

•First record of the reptile-associated Borrelia group in North America.•Boa constrictor as a potential reservoir of Borrelia in America.•Molecular confirmation of Borrelia in reptile blood samples. The reptile-associated Borrelia represent a monophyletic group of bacteria transmitted by several spe...

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Published in:Acta tropica 2020-05, Vol.205, p.105422-105422, Article 105422
Main Authors: Morales-Diaz, Jorge, Colunga-Salas, Pablo, Romero-Salas, Dora, Sánchez-Montes, Sokani, Estrada-Souza, Iris M., Ochoa-Ochoa, Leticia M., Becker, Ingeborg, Flores-Primo, Argel, Cruz-Romero, Anabel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Borrelia turcica
Herpetofauna
Snake
Spirochetes
Tickborne
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Summary:•First record of the reptile-associated Borrelia group in North America.•Boa constrictor as a potential reservoir of Borrelia in America.•Molecular confirmation of Borrelia in reptile blood samples. The reptile-associated Borrelia represent a monophyletic group of bacteria transmitted by several species of hard ticks, which has been reported to only infect amphibians and reptiles in Eurasia and Middle East, however, this bacterial group has not been studied in North America. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of Borrelia spirochetes in blood samples of native reptiles of Mexico. Blood samples were directly obtained from individuals, DNA extractions were performed using Chelex-100. The Borrelia detection was performed by conventional PCR. From 102 reptiles tested, only five individuals of Boa constrictor were positive for the presence of DNA of the reptile-associated Borrelia group. Supported by phylogenetic analysis, this study presents the first record of these spirochetes group in Mexico, and initial evidence of B. constrictor as a host of this group. [Display omitted]
ISSN:0001-706X
1873-6254
DOI:10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105422