Sensitivity of Borrelia genospecies to serum complement from different animals and human: a host–pathogen relationship

• Published in: FEMS immunology and medical microbiology 2005-02, Vol.43 (2), p.165-172
• Main Authors: Bhide, Mangesh R., Travnicek, Milan, Levkutova, Maria, Curlik, Jan, Revajova, Viera, Levkut, Mikulas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alternative pathway; animal pathogenic bacteria; Animals; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Bison; Bison - immunology; Bison bonasus; Blood Bactericidal Activity; Borrelia; Borrelia - immunology; Borrelia burgdorferi; Borrelia Infections - immunology; Borrelia Infections - veterinary; Buffalo; C3b; Cats; Cattle; Complement; Complement activation; Complement Pathway, Alternative; Complement system; Complement System Proteins - immunology; Deer; Deer - immunology; Disease Reservoirs; Dogs; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Host-Parasite Interactions; host-pathogen relationships; Humans; Lynx; Lynx - immunology; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Reservoir competence; Sensitivity; Serotypes; Sheep, Domestic - immunology; Species; Wolves - immunology
• ISSN: 0928-8244; 1574-695X; 2049-632X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.femsim.2004.07.012

Different Borrelia species and serotypes were tested for their sensitivity to serum complement from various animals and human. Complement-mediated Borrelia killing in cattle, European bison and deer was higher irrespective of the Borrelia species whereas in other animals and human it was intermediate and Borrelia species-dependent. Activation of the alternative complement pathway by particular Borrelia strain was in correlation with its sensitivity or resistance. These results support the incompetent reservoir nature of cattle, European bison, red, roe and fallow deer, at the same time present the probable reservoir nature of mouflon, dog, wolf, cat and lynx. In short, this study reviews Borrelia–host relationship and its relevance in reservoir competence nature of animals.