wildlife and zoo assay data sheet

Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)

Test code: B0004 - Ultrasensitive qualitative detection of Borrelia burgdorferi by real time PCR. This assay detects all Borrelia genospecies within the designation Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, which includes those found in both North America and Eurasia.

Borrelia burgdorferi are gram-negative spirochete bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Spirochetes are a group of phylogenetically distinct bacteria that have a unique mode of motility by means of axial filaments (endoflagella).

Borrelia are divided into "genospecies" including B. burgdorferi sensu strict, B. garinii and B. afzelii. The term used to collectively describe all these genospecies is B. burgdorferi sensu lato. All North American isolates are genospecies B. burgdorferi sensu strict. B. garinii and B. afzelii are predominant in Europe and Asia, although all three genospecies have been found there.

B. burgdorferi invades the blood and tissues of various infected mammals and birds via the bite of ticks of genus Ixodes. The natural reservoir for B. burgdorferi is thought to be the white-footed mouse. Ticks transfer the spirochetes to deer, humans, and other warm-blooded animals after a blood meal from an infected animal. In most mammals, including humans, infection by B. burgdorferi can result in Lyme disease.

Culture detection of Borrelia is difficult because these organisms have fastidious growth requirements, and even under optimal conditions their growth is very slow. Diagnosis by serological means usually has a very low positive predictive value (Lakos et al., 2010). However, PCR is a highly specific and sensitive methodology for rapid detection of B. burgdorferi.

Utilities:

• Help confirm the disease causing agent
• Shorten the time required to confirm a clinical diagnosis of Lyme disease
• Help ensure that animal facilities are free of Borrelia burgdorferi
• Early prevention of spread of Lyme disease among a facility
• Minimize human exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi
• Safety monitoring of biological products that derive from susceptible animals

References:
Lakos, A., Reiczigel, J. and Solymosi, N. (2010) The positive predictive value of Borrelia burgdorferi serology in the light of symptoms of patients sent to an outpatient service for tick-borne diseases. Inflamm. Res. 59:959-64.

Preferred specimen types: 0.5 ml synovial fluid or CSF, or 0.5 ml fresh, frozen or fixed tissue, or tick.

Less preferred specimen types: 0.5 ml whole blood in EDTA (purple top) or ACD (yellow top) tube, or 0.5 ml urine

For specimen types other than those listed here, please call to confirm specimen acceptability and shipping instructions.

For all specimen types, if there will be a delay in shipping, or during very warm weather, refrigerate specimens until shipped and ship with a cold pack unless more stringent shipping requirements are specified. Frozen specimens should be shipped so as to remain frozen in transit. See shipping instructions for more information.

Turnaround time: 2 business days

Methodology: Qualitative real time polymerase chain reaction

Normal range: Nondetected