DETECTION OF TICK-BORNE RELAPSING FEVER BORRELIAE IN TICK DNA SAMPLES BY USING PCR

Background and Aim:Tick-Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF) caused by Borreliae spp. has been reported in many parts of the world, including North and South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe.as In this study, a PCR assay based on glpQ gene was used to detect TBRF Borreliae DNA in ticks collected from endemic regions in Iran.Methods:Sixty Ornithodoros. tholozani ticks were collected from endemic areas of Iran during 2017. Then the samples were subjected to DNA extraction. A pair primer targeting glpQ gene was used to amplify a 200 bp conserved fragment.Results:Agarose gel electrophoresis analysis showed the amplification of a 200 bp fragment in 13 extracted DNA. The rest of the specimens were not positive in this experiment. Positive and negative control samples showed the expected results and thus the accuracy of the test.Conclusion:A significant amount of O. tholozani ticks in endemic areas of Iran are contaminated with TBRF Borreliae. The glpQ-PCR is a precise and reliable tool for evaluating ticks contamination in molecular epidemiological studies.