AUTHOR=Cirkovic Valentina , Veinovic Gorana , Stankovic Daliborka , Mihaljica Darko , Sukara Ratko , Tomanovic Snezana 

TITLE=Evolutionary dynamics and geographical dispersal of Borrelia lusitaniae

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1330914

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1330914

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Background</title><p><italic>Borrelia lusitaniae</italic> is a species within the complex <italic>Borrelia burgdorferi</italic> sensu lato, associated with lizards as reservoirs and <italic>Ixodes ricinus</italic> as its main vector. <italic>Borrelia lusitaniae</italic> is predominantly distributed in Central and Southeast Europe, and in countries of the Mediterranean basin, such as Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia, and Italy where this spirochete appears to infect vector ticks more frequently than other genospecies. Evolution of this zoonotic tick-borne microparasite is shaped by different environmental factors. Comprehensive phylogenetic analysis may give insight into how <italic>B. lusitaniae</italic> spreads to new geographic locations.</p></sec><sec><title>Aim</title><p>We applied Bayesian statistical methods to <italic>B. lusitaniae</italic> multilocus sequence typing (MLST) data to study the migration routes of <italic>B. lusitaniae</italic> and its potential for further spread.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The discrete phylogeographic analysis placed origins of <italic>B. lusitaniae</italic> in Southeast Europe and identified at least two introductions of <italic>B</italic>. <italic>lusitaniae</italic> from Europe to North Africa. Estimated effective reproductive potential (Re), as a key indicator for a pathogen spread, suggested potential for further spread.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>The results of this study can provide beneficial information about the potential for further spread of <italic>B. lusitaniae</italic> in Europe and North Africa and estimation of necessity for the development of strategies to monitor and control Lyme borreliosis.</p></sec>