Detection of heterogeneity of Borrelia burgdorferi in ixodes ticks by culture-dependent and culture-independent methods

J Clin Microbiol. 2013 Feb;51(2):615-7. doi: 10.1128/JCM.03009-12. Epub 2012 Nov 21.

Abstract

Abilities to detect heterogeneity of ospC genotypes of the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi in the tick vector by in vitro culture (IVC) and direct PCR (dPCR) were compared. IVC failed to detect one-third of the ospC genotypes detected by dPCR. Among IVC results, common ospC genotypes were overrepresented while occurrence of rare genotypes was underestimated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / classification
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Ixodes / microbiology*
  • Male

Substances

  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • OspC protein