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. 2016 Jun 13;5(2):168-74.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2016.06.002. eCollection 2016 Aug.

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in white-tailed deer from Texas

Shakirat A Adetunji  1 , Rosina C Krecek  2 , Gabrielle Castellanos  1 , John C Morrill  3 , Alice Blue-McLendon  4 , Walt E Cook  1 , Maria D Esteve-Gassent  1
Affiliations

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies in white-tailed deer from Texas

Shakirat A Adetunji et al. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl. .

Abstract

Lyme Disease is caused by the bacterial pathogen Borrelia burgdorferi, and is transmitted by the tick-vector Ixodes scapularis. It is the most prevalent arthropod-borne disease in the United States. To determine the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi antibodies in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from Texas, we analyzed serum samples (n = 1493) collected during the 2001-2015 hunting seasons, using indirect ELISA. Samples with higher sero-reactivity (0.803 and above) than the negative control group (0.662) were further tested using a more specific standardized western immunoblot assay to rule out false positives. Using ELISA, 4.7% of the samples were sero-reactive against B. burgdorferi, and these originated in two eco-regions in Texas (Edwards Plateau and South Texas Plains). However, only 0.5% of the total samples were sero-reactive by standardized western immunoblot assay. Additionally, both ELISA and standardized western immunoblot assay results correlated with an increased incidence in human Lyme Disease cases reported in Texas. This is the first longitudinal study to demonstrate fluctuation in sero-reactivity of white-tailed deer to B. burgdorferi sensu stricto antigens in southern United States. Future ecological and geographical studies are needed to assess the environmental factors governing the prevalence of Lyme Disease in non-endemic areas of the southern United States.

Keywords: Borrelia burgdorferi; Ixodes scapularis; Lyme disease; Sero-reactivity; Texas; White-tailed deer.

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Figures

None
Graphical abstract
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Texas map showing 14 counties in which white-tailed deer (WTD) were sampled for Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies from 2001 to 2015. Blue counties: samples negative by ELISA and standardized western immunoblot; Gray counties: negative control samples; Yellow counties: samples sero-reactive by standardized western immunoblot assay (Travis and Williamson counties). (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Optical density values of the white-tailed deer (WTD) serum samples analyzed with indirect ELISA for Borrelia burgdorferi. (A.) ELISA data from 109 WTD serum samples used as negative controls, collected from 2003 to 2015. (B.) ELISA data from 1384 WTD serum samples collected from 2001 to 2013. The dashed line denotes the cut off value used in this study. The samples above this line were analyzed with standardized western immunoblot assay.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Assays used to demonstrate reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi antigens in white-tailed deer serum samples. (A.) The molecular weight marker (Mk) showing estimated molecular weights of Borrelia antigens (Bb). (B.) From left to right, negative control samples (1–5) and samples highly sero-reactive (6–12). The three immunoassays used were ELISA, standardized western immunoblot (WB) and Marblot (MB) assays.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Confirmed human Lyme Disease cases in Texas from 2000 to 2013 reported to the CDC (www.cdc.com).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
White-tailed deer (WTD) population density in Texas eco-regions from 2005 to 2013. This graph is a representation of WTD population density statewide in Texas; in two counties (Travis and Williamson) where sero-reactive samples, and negative control samples for Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies were found.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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