Experimental evidence rules out mosquitoes as vectors of Lyme disease

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60077344%3A_____%2F25%3A00636194" target="_blank" >RIV/60077344:_____/25:00636194 - isvavai.cz</a>

Alternative codes found

RIV/68081766:_____/25:00636194 RIV/60076658:12310/25:43909872 RIV/00216208:11140/25:10498601 RIV/00216208:11310/25:10498601

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06823-x" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06823-x</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13071-025-06823-x" target="_blank" >10.1186/s13071-025-06823-x</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Experimental evidence rules out mosquitoes as vectors of Lyme disease

Original language description

Background: Lyme disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere, with Ixodes ticks as its primary vectors. However, many patients do not recall tick bites, fueling speculation about alternative transmission routes, particularly via mosquito bites. This belief is reinforced by studies reporting Borrelia presence in mosquitoes. This study evaluates whether three mosquito species can acquire, maintain, and transmit Borrelia spirochetes.Methods: Mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Culex pipiens biotype molestus) were fed on Borrelia-infected mice to assess pathogen acquisition. Additional experiments involved ex vivo feeding on Borrelia-enriched blood to examine spirochete persistence in the mosquito gut. The potential for mechanical transmission was tested by simulating interrupted feeding between infected and naive hosts. The role of trypsin in Borrelia survival and infectivity was also investigated. Results: Mosquitoes exhibited low efficiency in acquiring Borrelia from infected hosts. Spirochetes artificially introduced through ex vivo blood meals were rapidly eliminated during digestion, primarily due to trypsin activity. Inhibition of trypsin prolonged spirochete persistence and infectivity in the mosquito gut. Mechanical transmission experiments revealed no evidence of Borrelia transmission from infected to naive hosts. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that mosquitoes lack the biological capacity to efficiently acquire and maintain B. burgdorferi s.l. spirochetes and are unable to transmit them through natural or mechanical means. This study provides compelling evidence against mosquito-borne transmission of Lyme disease and reinforces Ixodes ticks as the sole competent vectors, which is crucial for targeted public health interventions and accurate risk communication.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

10606 - Microbiology

Project

Result was created during the realization of more than one project. More information in the Projects tab.

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Parasites & Vectors

ISSN

1756-3305

e-ISSN

1756-3305

Volume of the periodical

18

Issue of the periodical within the volume

1

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

9

Pages from-to

206

UT code for WoS article

001502183400002

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105007236559