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Background <p>Lyme disease, caused by <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato (s.l.), is the most common vector-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere, with <i>Ixodes</i> 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 <i>Borrelia</i> presence in mosquitoes. This study evaluates whether three mosquito species can acquire, maintain, and transmit <i>Borrelia</i> spirochetes.</p> Methods <p>Mosquitoes (<i>Aedes aegypti</i>, <i>Culex quinquefasciatus</i>, and <i>Culex pipiens</i> biotype <i>molestus</i>) were fed on <i>Borrelia</i>-infected mice to assess pathogen acquisition. Additional experiments involved ex vivo feeding on <i>Borrelia</i>-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 <i>Borrelia</i> survival and infectivity was also investigated.</p> Results <p>Mosquitoes exhibited low efficiency in acquiring <i>Borrelia</i> 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 <i>Borrelia</i> transmission from infected to naive hosts.</p> Conclusions <p>Our findings demonstrate that mosquitoes lack the biological capacity to efficiently acquire and maintain <i>B. burgdorferi</i> 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 <i>Ixodes</i> ticks as the sole competent vectors, which is crucial for targeted public health interventions and accurate risk communication. </p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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Experimental evidence rules out mosquitoes as vectors of Lyme disease

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月4日

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  • Miriama Pekľanská,
  • Kateřina Kuníková,
  • Romana Vlčková,
  • Hana Slabová,
  • David Hartmann,
  • Karolina Volfová,
  • Ivo Rudolf,
  • Silvie Šikutová,
  • Ryan O. M. Rego,
  • Fernando Gabriel Noriega,
  • Ondřej Hajdušek,
  • Jan Perner,
  • Jan Votýpka,
  • Marcela Nouzová,
  • Radek Šíma

摘要

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.

Graphical Abstract