Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Borrelia miyamotoi strains from ticks collected in the capital region of Finland

Borrelia miyamotoi is an emerging pathogen that shares high similarity with relapsing fever Borrelia, but has atypical clinical presentation. Within the framework of tick-borne disease surveillance in Finland, human serum samples suspected for encephalitis (n=974) and questing ticks (n=739) were collected from capital region Finland to determine prevalence B. miyamotoi. All tested negative 5 (0.68 %) Ixodes ricinus positive Partial sequencing flagellin (flaB) gene 3 27 miyamotoi-positive tick obtained previous studies across amplified, sequenced, included phylogenetic analysis. The tree revealed most strains isolated share other European strains, including related infection. Possible transmission may occur during exposure bites. A single strain I. persulcatus Pajujärvi grouped outlier Russia Far East Asian countries. Further should investigate pathogen’s role infection Finland. Another important finding occurrence (8%) by crowdsourcing coastal southern part This suggests a regular introduction possible wide expansion this species country. could be associated new pathogens.