DARWIN Digitale Dissertationen German Version Strich

FU Berlin
Digitale Dissertation

Jana Heidrich :
Prevalence of Borrelia (B.) burgdorferi sensu lato in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in eastern Brandenburg
Untersuchungen zur Prävalenz von Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato beim Rotfuchs (Vulpes vulpes) in Ostbrandenburg

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|Abstract| |Table of Contents| |More Information|

Abstract

A study was carried out on the potential of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) as a reservoir host in the epidemiology of Lyme borreliosis. The samples were collected in the Oder-Spree, Uckermark, Barnim and Märkisch-Oderland districts of the state of Brandenburg, Germany, from the carcasses of foxes investigated for rabies at the state veterinary and food investigation centre (Staatliches Veterinär- und Lebensmitteluntersuchungsamt) in Frankfurt-Oder.
Of 100 investigated red foxes, 78 animals were found infested with ixodid ticks (Ixodes ricinus, I. hexagonus, and I. canisuga).

Culturing of B. burgdorferi s.l. was unsuccessful both in MKP medium and in
BSK II medium. In 26% of the foxes, immobile spirochete-like forms were detected under the dark-field microscope. By use of the electron microscope, these forms proved to be bundles of flagellae, associated with the accompanying or contaminating microflora (e. g. Corynebacterium aquaticum) and reacted negative in the Borrelia-specific PCR. Using a nested-PCR, it was possible to identify
B. burgdorferi s.l. in 7% of skin samples of all foxes.

No antibodies (IgG) specific for Borrelia were detected in whole blood samples of the foxes, using two different ELISA tests.

Investigation on infection rates of ticks was done using both indirect immunofluorescence (IIFT) and PCR. In IIFT, when polyclonal antibodies were used, a by far higher prevalence (45 %) was established than when using monoclonal antibodies were used (18 %). An infection rate of 19% of ticks was determined by use of an OspA-specific nested-PCR. The amplification products were confirmed by Southern blot.

From the results it is concluded that the red fox (in eastern Brandenburg) has little or no competence as reservoir for Lyme borreliosis.

Table of Contents

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Titelblatt, Inhalts-, Abkürzungs-, Tabellen- und Abbildungsverzeichnis, Danksagung, Lebenslauf
1. Einleitung
2. Literaturýbersicht
3. Material und Methoden
4. Ergebnisse Teil 1
5. Ergebnisse Teil 2
6. Diskussion
7. Zusammenfassung, Summary
8. Literaturverzeichnis
9. Anhang

More Information:

Online available: http://www.diss.fu-berlin.de/2000/155/indexe.html
Language of PhDThesis: german
Keywords: borrelia; fox; ELISA; PCR; Culturing
DNB-Sachgruppe: 34 Veterinärmedizin
Date of disputation: 22-Dec-2000
PhDThesis from: Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin
First Referee: Univ.-Prof. Dr. E. Schein
Second Referee: Univ.-Prof. Dr. L.H. Wieler
Third Referee: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Th. Hiepe
Contact (Advisor): j.heidrich@bgvv.de
Date created:11-Feb-2001
Date available:12-Feb-2001

 

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