Detection and genotyping of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Pingxiang of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China

Objective To investigate the infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and its genospecies in Pingxiang of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Methods The specimens of ticks, rodents, and wild birds were collected in Pingxiang region of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in July 2011. Genomic DNA of B. burgdorferi sensu lato was extracted from the ticks and the spleens of rodents and wild birds by boiling method and Qiagen kit. The 5S-23S rRNA gene intergenic region of B. burgdorferi sensu lato was amplified by nested PCR; the PCR products were sequenced and aligned with the sequences of 5S-23S rRNA gene intergenic region of B. burgdorferi sensu lato deposited in GenBank to identify the genospecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato. Results B. burgdorferi sensu lato was detected in three rodent specimens, with an infection rate of 5.66% (3/53) among the rodents. One of the sequences had a homology of 100% with B. valaisiana (accessions in GenBank: HM100125.1, AB091455.1, AB091454.1, AB091453.1). B. burgdorferi sensu lato was not found in ticks and birds. Conclusion The infection with B. valaisiana in rodents is present in Pingxiang region of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.