Human Borrelia miyamotoi infection in California: Serodiagnosis is complicated by multiple endemic Borrelia species.

To determine whether human Borrelia miyamotoi infection occurs in the far-western United States, we tested archived sera from northwestern California residents for antibodies to this emerging relapsing fever spirochete. These residents frequently were exposed to I. pacificus ticks in a region where B. miyamotoi tick infection has been reported. We used a two-step B. miyamotoi rGlpQ assay and a B. miyamotoi whole-cell lysate (WCL) assay to detect B. miyamotoi antibody. We also employed Borrelia hermsii and Borrelia burgdorferi WCL assays to examine if these Borrelia induce cross reacting antibody to B. miyamotoi. Sera were collected from 101 residents in each of two consecutive years. The sera of 12 and 14 residents in years one and two, respectively, were B. miyamotoi rGlpQ seroreactive. Sufficient sera were available to test 15 of the 26 seropositive samples using B. miyamotoi and B. hermsii WCL assays. Two residents in year one and seven residents in year two were seroreactive to both Borrelia antigens. Although discernible differences in seroreactivity were evident between the B. miyamotoi and B. hermsii WCL assays, infection with one or the other could not be determined with certainty. Sera from two Borrelia burgdorferi /B. miyamotoi seropositive subjects reacted strongly against B. miyamotoi and B. hermsii WCL antigens. Ecological, epidemiological, and clinical data implicated B. miyamotoi as the probable cause of infection among those whose sera reacted against both antigens. Our findings suggest that human B. miyamotoi infection occurs in northern California and that B. hermsii and B. burgdorferi infections produce antibodies that cross-react with B. miyamotoi antigens. Health care professionals in the far-western United States should be aware that B. miyamotoi disease may occur throughout the geographic distribution of I. pacificus and that improved relapsing fever group spirochete antibody assays are urgently needed

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, B. miyamotoi, and Powassan Virus in Residents Bitten by Ixodes Ticks, Maine, USA

We conducted a serosurvey of 230 persons in Maine, USA, who had been bitten by Ixodes scapularis or I. cookei ticks. We documented seropositivity for Borrelia burgdorferi (13.9%) and B. miyamotoi (2.6%), as well as a single equivocal result (0.4%) for Powassan encephalitis virus

<i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> rGlpQ ELISA and Western blot test results among CHR subjects.

<p><i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> rGlpQ ELISA and Western blot test results among CHR subjects.</p

<i>B</i>. <i>burgdorferi</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> WCL Western blot reactivity in serum samples from New England residents whose sera were reactive against <i>B</i>. <i>burgdorferi</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> antigen.

<p><b>2A.</b><i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> rGlpQ Western blot results of sera from patients who previously had <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> sensu lato infection alone (Bmsl positive control subject, PCR confirmed <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> infection) or Lyme disease alone (Bb positive control, erythema migrans rash and <i>B</i>. <i>burgdorferi</i> seropositive using the standard two-step ELISA and Western blot assay). The arrow indicates the rGlpQ specific band. <b>2B.</b> <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>burgdorferi</i> WCL Western blot results of sera from the same patients as in Fig 2A.</p

<i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>hermsii</i> WCL seroreactivity in CHR subjects who were <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> rGlpQ seroreactive.

<p><i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>hermsii</i> WCL seroreactivity in CHR subjects who were <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> rGlpQ seroreactive.</p

Human <i>Borrelia miyamotoi</i> infection in California: Serodiagnosis is complicated by multiple endemic <i>Borrelia</i> species

<div><p>To determine whether human <i>Borrelia miyamotoi</i> infection occurs in the far-western United States, we tested archived sera from northwestern California residents for antibodies to this emerging relapsing fever spirochete. These residents frequently were exposed to <i>I</i>. <i>pacificus</i> ticks in a region where <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> tick infection has been reported. We used a two-step <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> rGlpQ assay and a <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> whole-cell lysate (WCL) assay to detect <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> antibody. We also employed <i>Borrelia hermsii</i> and <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> WCL assays to examine if these <i>Borrelia</i> induce cross reacting antibody to <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i>. Sera were collected from 101 residents in each of two consecutive years. The sera of 12 and 14 residents in years one and two, respectively, were <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> rGlpQ seroreactive. Sufficient sera were available to test 15 of the 26 seropositive samples using <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>hermsii</i> WCL assays. Two residents in year one and seven residents in year two were seroreactive to both <i>Borrelia</i> antigens. Although discernible differences in seroreactivity were evident between the <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>hermsii</i> WCL assays, infection with one or the other could not be determined with certainty. Sera from two <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> /<i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> seropositive subjects reacted strongly against <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>hermsii</i> WCL antigens. Ecological, epidemiological, and clinical data implicated <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> as the probable cause of infection among those whose sera reacted against both antigens. Our findings suggest that human <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> infection occurs in northern California and that <i>B</i>. <i>hermsii</i> and <i>B</i>. <i>burgdorferi</i> infections produce antibodies that cross-react with <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> antigens. Health care professionals in the far-western United States should be aware that <i>B</i>. <i>miyamotoi</i> disease may occur throughout the geographic distribution of <i>I</i>. <i>pacificus</i> and that improved relapsing fever group spirochete antibody assays are urgently needed.</p></div

Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato Seroreactivity and Seroprevalence in the Northeastern United States - Volume 20, Number 7—July 2014 - Emerging Infectious Diseases journal - CDC

Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato, a relapsing fever Borrelia sp., is transmitted by the same ticks that transmit B. burgdorferi (the Lyme disease pathogen) and occurs in all Lyme disease-endemic areas of the United States. To determine the seroprevalence of IgG against B. miyamotoi sensu lato in the northeastern United States and assess whether serum from B. miyamotoi sensu lato-infected persons is reactive to B. burgdorferi antigens, we tested archived serum samples from area residents during 1991-2012. Of 639 samples from healthy persons, 25 were positive for B. miyamotoi sensu lato and 60 for B. burgdorferi. Samples from ≈10% of B. miyamotoi sensu lato-seropositive persons without a recent history of Lyme disease were seropositive for B. burgdorferi. Our results suggest that human B. miyamotoi sensu lato infection may be common in southern New England and that B. burgdorferi antibody testing is not an effective surrogate for detecting B. miyamotoi sensu lato infection

Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato Seroreactivity and Seroprevalence in the Northeastern United States

Borrelia miyamotoi sensu lato, a relapsing fever Borrelia sp., is transmitted by the same ticks that transmit B. burgdorferi (the Lyme disease pathogen) and occurs in all Lyme disease–endemic areas of the United States. To determine the seroprevalence of IgG against B. miyamotoi sensu lato in the northeastern United States and assess whether serum from B. miyamotoi sensu lato–infected persons is reactive to B. burgdorferi antigens, we tested archived serum samples from area residents during 1991–2012. Of 639 samples from healthy persons, 25 were positive for B. miyamotoi sensu lato and 60 for B. burgdorferi. Samples from ≈10% of B. miyamotoi sensu lato–seropositive persons without a recent history of Lyme disease were seropositive for B. burgdorferi. Our resultsA suggest thatA human B. miyamotoiA sensu latoA infection may be common in southern New England and that B. burgdorferi antibody testing is not an effective surrogate for detecting B. miyamotoi sensu lato infection