Lyme and mosquitos
JWissmille
The author states that Lyme can't be transmitted by a mosquito because it dies
in the mosquito's digestive track. I don't believe the statement is accurate
if the following information is correct.
Infection 1999;27(4-5):275-7 Related Articles, Books
Isolation of Borrelia afzelii from overwintering Culex pipiens biotype molestus
mosquitos.
Halouzka J, Wilske B, Stunzner D, Sanogo YO, Hubalek Z
Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic,
Brno.
[Medline record in process]
During the years 1995-1996, a total of 1,743 overwintering Culex pipiens
biotype molestus female mosquitoes were tested for the presence of spirochetes
in several localities in South Moravia, Czech Republic.The spirochetes were
observed in 5% of the mosquitoes investigated. One of the five isolated strains
of spirochetes (BR-84) was identified as Borrelia afzelii. The potential role
of mosquitoes in the ecology and epidemiology of Lyme disease (LD) borreliae
should be further investigated.
PMID: 10885843, UI: 20340391
Title: Investigation of haematophagous arthropods for borreliae--summarized
data, 1988-1996.
Authors: Hubalek Z, Halouzka J, Juricova Z
Source: Folia Parasitol (Praha) 1998;45(1):67-72
Organization: Institute of Landscape Ecology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech
Republic, Brno, Czech Republic. zhub...@brno.cas.cz
Abstract:
Blood-sucking arthropods, collected in South Moravia, Czech Republic, were
examined by darkfield microscopy for borreliae from 1988 to 1996. Among
host-seeking ixodid ticks (8481 Ixodes ricinus (L.), 372 Dermacentor
reticulatus (Fabr.), 167 Haemaphysalis concinna Koch), borreliae were only
observed in adult (23.2%), nymphal (17.2%) and larval (6.3%) I. ricinus. The
prevalence of borreliae in I. ricinus did not vary considerably among habitats
except for lower values in agroecosystems, xerothermic oak woods and
grasslands. The frequency of intensity of spirochaetal infection (log10 counts
of borreliae per tick) in I. ricinus approximated the negative binomial
distribution. The proportions of host-seeking female and nymphal ticks
containing > 100 borreliae were 5.0% and 1.7%, respectively. Among preimaginal
ticks (749 I. ricinus, 222 D. reticulatus, 82 H. concinna) parasitizing
free-living forest birds and small mammals, borreliae were detected in 6.1% of
larval and 10.3% of nymphal I. ricinus, and in one larval H. concinna; 3.2% of
the birds and 19.4% of the mammals carried infected ticks. Among 3464 female
mosquitoes (Culicidae) of 6 species, 4.1% contained spirochaetes: 1.4% of Aedes
vexans Meig., 1.3% of A. cantans (Meig.), 2.2% of A. sticticus (Meig.), 2.2% of
Culex pipiens pipiens L. and 5.9% of C. p. molestus Forskal. Borreliae were
also detected in 8.4% of 142 fleas (Siphonaptera, largely Ctenophthalmus
agyrtes Heller and Hystrichopsylla talpae Curtis) collected from small mammals.
Twelve isolates of B. burgdorferi sensu lato have been identified to
genospecies: 6 strains from I. ricinus (4 Borrelia garinii Baranton et al., 1
B. afzelii Canica et al. and 1 B. lusitaniae Le Fleche et al.), 1 strain from
A. vexans (B. afzelii), 2 strains from C. agyrtes (B. afzelii), and 3 strains
from host rodents (B. afzelii).
Keywords:
Animal, Birds, PARASITOLOGY, Borrelia burgdorferi, ISOLATION & PURIF,
Culicidae, MICROBIOLOGY, Czech Republic, Female, Larva, Male, Mammals,
PARASITOLOGY, Nymph, Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Ticks, MICROBIOLOGY
Language: Eng
Unique ID: 98178065
Title: Isolation of the spirochaete Borrelia afzelii from the mosquito Aedes
vexans in the Czech Republic.
Authors: Halouzka J, Postic D, Hubalek Z
Source: Med Vet Entomol 1998 Jan;12(1):103-5
Organization: Institute of Landscape Ecology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech
Republic.
Abstract:
During the years 1993-1995, a total of 3580 culicine mosquitoes of six species
were collected in South Moravia, Czech Republic, and examined by dark-field
microscopy for the presence of borreliae. Females of Aedes cantans, Ae.
sticticus, Ae. vexans, Culex pipiens and Cx pipiens biotype molestus (but not
Ae. geniculatus or Culiseta annulata) harboured spirochaetes, the frequencies
ranging from 0.7% to 7.8%. One isolate (BR-53) from Ae. vexans was identified
as Borrelia afzelii genospecies. The potential role of mosquitoes in the
epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis should be investigated.
Keywords:
Aedes, PARASITOLOGY, Animal, Borrelia, ISOLATION & PURIF, Czech Republic,
EPIDEMIOLOGY, Host-Parasite Relations, Human, Insect Vectors, Lyme Disease,
EPIDEMIOLOGY, PARASITOLOGY, TRANSMISSION, Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Language: Eng
Unique ID: 98175133
Title: The review of studies in vector ecology in Russia.
Authors: Nikolaeva N
Source: Bull Inst Marit Trop Med Gdynia 1996;47(1-4):73-83
Organization: Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ekaterinburg, Russia.
Abstract:
Studies on the vector ecology conducted in the Ural Region and elsewhere in the
former Soviet Union and in Russia in the years 1970-1995, are reviewed. For
many years, the information on the incidence of parasitic and vector-borne
diseases in the Soviet Union was not available. The recently published data
indicated that the actual figures for these diseases were many times higher
than those which were officially reported.
Keywords:
Animal, Anopheles, GENETICS, Arbovirus Infections, EPIDEMIOLOGY, TRANSMISSION,
Culex, GENETICS, Culicidae, Ecology, Encephalitis, EPIDEMIOLOGY, Female,
Host-Parasite Relations, Human, Incidence, Insect Vectors, Lyme Disease,
EPIDEMIOLOGY, TRANSMISSION, Malaria, EPIDEMIOLOGY, TRANSMISSION, Mosquito
Control, METHODS, Population Dynamics, Russia, EPIDEMIOLOGY, Ticks
Language: Eng
Unique ID: 97255720
Title: Ocular lyme disease.
Authors: Hunt L
Source: Insight 1996 Jun;21(2):56-7
Organization:
Abstract:
Lyme disease is reported from all over the United States. Transmitted by deer
ticks, mosquitoes, and deer flies, it affects numerous organ systems. All age
groups are vulnerable to this disease and must be educated about early signs
and symptoms to speed diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Keywords:
Case Report, Child, Eye Infections, Bacterial, DIAGNOSIS, DRUG THERAPY,
TRANSMISSION, Human, Lyme Disease, DIAGNOSIS, DRUG THERAPY, TRANSMISSION, Male
Language: Eng
Unique ID: 97112806
_________________________________
" ' The mosquito that carries the virus - Culex pipiens - is 'the most
common species in urban areas,' Fish says. ' It is almost like a cockroach.' "
An extra from Durland Fish:
Here are some quotes from USA Today about the West Nile virus -
Sept. 29 page 1
" ' It's a good possibility the virus has been carried south by migratory
birds, not only to the southern US but also to the Caribbean and South
America,' said Duane Gubler of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
in Atlanta. "
sept. 29 page 4 D
" It is carried by birds and is transmitted to mosquitoes that feed on the
birds.
" ' This should be a lesson that mosquitoes, being bloodsucking insects,
have the capability of transmitting disease,' says Durland Fish of Yale
University.
" ' The mosquito that carries the virus - Culex pipiens - is 'the most
common species in urban areas,' Fish says. ' It is almost like a cockroach.' "
Rise-Omni
Canada by possible insect transmission.
Czech Republic by mosquito Aedes vexans.
France by the biting fly.
Kara Tyson
Huntsville, AL