Seasonal Prevalence of Lyme Disease Spirochetes in a Heterothermic Mammal, the Edible Dormouse (Glis glis)

摘要: In Europe, dormice serve as competent reservoir hosts for particular genospecies of the tick-borne agent Lyme disease (LD) and seem to support them more efficiently than do mice or voles. The longevity edible (Glis glis) their attractiveness ticks may result in a predominance LD spirochetes questing dormouse habitats. To investigate role transmission cycle spirochetes, we sampled skin tissue from ear pinnae inhabiting five different study sites south western Germany. Of 501 dormice, 12.6% harbored DNA spirochetes. Edible were infected most frequently with pathogenic spirochete Borrelia afzelii. B. garinii bavariensis was detected ca. 0.5% examined individuals. No spirochetal detectable until July, 6 weeks after they generally start emerge obligate hibernation. Thereafter, prevalence increased during remaining period 4 5 months activity, reaching nearly 40% September. Males four times likely harbor females, yearlings almost twice be adults. seasonality pronounced affect host respect other hosts.