Maintenance by Hares of European Borrelia burgdorferi in Ecosystems Without Rodents

During May-October 1991 shrews (Sorex spp.), small rodents (Apodemus spp., Clethrionomys glareolus [Schreber]), and hares (Lepus spp.) were sampled near Stockholm, Sweden. Nymphal Ixodes ricinus (L.) derived from blood-engorged larvae collected from these mammals were investigated by phase-contrast microscopy and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using the monoclonal antibody H6831 directed against the OspB protein of Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt & Brenner. Three rodent species, previously known as vertebrate reservoirs for B. burgdorferi in Switzerland, are competent reservoirs of Lyme borreliosis also in Sweden. The first data are presented showing Lyme disease reservoir competency of European insectivores (Sorex araneus L., S. minutus L.) and lagomorphs (Lepus europaeus Pallas, L. timidus L.). Lagomorphs are the only European vertebrates known to be both competent reservoirs for B. burgdorferi and a source of blood for all stages of I. ricinus. We propose that Lyme borreliosis can be maintained for prolonged periods on islands, without rodents and insectivores, if lagomorphs are present; and, in such ecosystems, fluctuations of lagomorph population levels may influence the numbers of B. burgdorferi-infected ticks and hence the risk of human Lyme disease infection.