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Occurrence
In Lagomorphs
Wild lagomorphs that have been reported to be naturally infected with Borrelia
burgdorferi:
- Lepus californicus - Black-tailed Jackrabbit
in North America. (B209.26.w26)
- In regions where Lyme disease is endemic, the jackrabbit is
especially likely to be infected. Thus, serological monitoring of
jackrabbits is a useful means of surveying various geographical
areas for the presence of borreliosis. (B614.8.w8)
- In a study in California, 58/73 (79%) Lepus californicus
- Black-tailed jackrabbit were seropositive for Borrelia
burgendorferi by indirect IFA, and 1/26 (4%) was positive for
spirochetemia with a direct IFA. (J1.24.w17)
- In a study in southern Texas, 8/26 Lepus californicus
- Black-tailed jackrabbit sampled in 1986 were
seropositive for Borrelia burgendorferi (IFA at least
1:128) and Borrelia burgendorferi was isolated from 2/10
kidneys. (J1.25.w14)
- Lepus europaeus - Brown hare
in Europe. (B209.26.w26)
- Sampling of ticks (nymphal Ixodes ricinus derived from blood-engorged larvae) collected from)
Lepus europaeus - Brown hare
near Stockholm, Sweden, detected Borrelia burgendorferi. (J110.30.w2)
- Lepus timidus -
Mountain hare
- This species of lagomorph has been reported to be a reservoir of
disease in Europe. (B209.26.w26)
- Sampling of ticks (nymphal Ixodes ricinus derived from blood-engorged larvae)
collected from) Lepus timidus -
Mountain hare
near Stockholm, Sweden, detected Borrelia burgendorferi.
(J110.30.w2)
- In the Baltic Sea Islands, this species of lagomorph and Ixodes
ricinus (Ixodidae
(Family)) are reported to maintain an endemic cycle of Borrelia
burgdorferi. (B209.26.w26)
- A study on two isolated islands in the Baltic Sea, where Lepus timidus -
Mountain hare
is the only terrestrial vertebrate species able to act as a host for all stages of Ixodes ricinus,
the organism was found in 11-24% of nymphal Ixodes ricinus fed as larvae on
the hares as well as in 8-19% of host-seeking nymphal Ixodes
ricinus collected from vegetation. The study concluded
that the hare served as a maintenance host for Borrelia
burgendorferi on these islands. (J110.33.w1)
- Sylvilagus bachmani - Brush rabbit
in North America. (B209.26.w26)
- Sylvilagus floridanus - Eastern Cottontail rabbit
(B614.8.w8)
- In a study in the northeastern United States, more than 90% of
rabbits sampled in the area over a period of two years were
seropositive for Borrelia burgendorferi (ELISA and
immunoblotting). (J91.41.w1)This species of lagomorph has been reported to be a reservoir of
disease in North America. (B209.26.w26)
- In the northeastern United States, this species of lagomorph
and Ixodes dentatus (Ixodidae
(Family)) are reported to maintain an endemic cycle of Borrelia
burgdorferi. (B209.26.w26)
- In a study in the northeastern United States, Borrelia
burgendorferi was present in Ixodes dentatus ticks
from all of 11 Sylvilagus floridanus - Eastern Cottontail rabbit
sampled. (J91.41.w1)
- In a study in New York State, USA, sprirochetes identified
as Borrelia burgendorferi. were isolated from Sylvilagus floridanus - Eastern Cottontail rabbit
in both rural and urban areas. It was noted that there was
antigenic variability in the organism. (J93.27.w1)
- Sylvilagus audubonii - Desert
cottontail
There have been no reports of spontaneous infection in laboratory
rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus
domesticus - Domestic European rabbit). (B614.8.w8)
In Bears
- A Borrelia sp. morphologically and antigenically similar to Borrelia
burgdorferi, was isolated from the blood of two bears and the kidney of a
third bear, out of 18 free-ranging Ursus americanus - American black
bears from northern Wisconsin, 1983. (J1.24.w9)
- In a survey, a high rate of seropositivity to Borrelia
burgendorferi (sensu lato) was detected in Ursus americanus - American black
bears from inland forest habitats of northern California. (P9.2004.w7)
Transmission
In Lagomorphs
- In Europe, sampling of ticks (nymphal Ixodes ricinus derived from blood-engorged larvae) collected from)
Lepus europaeus - Brown hare
and Lepus timidus -
Mountain hare
near Stockholm, Sweden, detected Borrelia burgendorferi.
The study showed that these hares are competent reservoirs. It
also noted that since these species are capable of supporting all
life stages of Ixodes ricinus, they could maintain the
spirochete in the absence of other reservoir hosts such as
rodents. (J110.30.w2)
- In a study in California, Lepus californicus
- Black-tailed jackrabbit of the five species of
ticks (Dermocentor occidentalis, Dermacentor
parumapertus, Ixodes neotomae, Ixodes perfidus,
and Haemaphysalis leporispalustris) caried by the
jackrabbits, Borrelia burgendorferi was detected in 20% of Ixodes
neotomae and in 1% of Haemaphysalis leporispalustris;
an infected Haemaphysalis leporispalustris female passed
spirochetes to about 67% of her progeny (transovarial
transmission). (J1.24.w17)
- In a study in New York state, the organism was isolated from Ixodes
dentatus but not from Haemaphysalis leporispalustris. (J93.27.w1)
- Sylvilagus floridanus - Eastern Cottontail rabbit
has been reported to be a reservoir of Borrelia
burgendorferi in North America; in the northeastern United States, this species
and Ixodes dentatus (Ixodidae
(Family)) are reported to maintain an endemic cycle. (B209.26.w26)
- In a study in the northeastern United States, Borrelia
burgendorferi was present in Ixodes dentatus
ticks from all of 11 Sylvilagus floridanus - Eastern Cottontail rabbit
sampled, and was found in 32% of 72 unfed Ixodes
dentatus nymphs collected by a sweep of the
vegetation. More than 90% of rabbits sampled in the area
over a period of two years were seropositive for Borrelia
burgendorferi (ELISA and immunoblotting). (J91.41.w1)
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