Emerging and re-emerging pathogens often stem from zoonotic origins, cycling between humans and animals, and are frequently vectored and maintained by hematophagous arthropod vectors. The efficiency by which these disease agents are successfully transmitted between vertebrate hosts is influenced by many factors, including the host on which a vector feeds. The Lyme disease bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato has adapted to survive in complex host environments, vectored by Ixodes ticks, and maintained in multiple vertebrate hosts. The versatility of Lyme borreliae in disparate host milieus is a compelling platform to investigate mechanisms dictating pathogen transmission through complex networks of vertebrates and ticks. Squamata, one of the most diverse clade of extant reptiles, is comprised primarily of lizards, many of which are readily fed upon by Ixodes ticks. Yet, lizards are one of the least studied taxa at risk of contributing to the transmission and life cycle maintenance of Lyme borreliae. In this review, we summarize the current evidence, spanning from field surveillance to laboratory infection studies, supporting their contributions to Lyme borreliae circulation. We also summarize the current understanding of divergent lizard immune responses that may explain the underlying molecular mechanisms to confer Lyme spirochete survival in vertebrate hosts. This review offers a critical perspective on potential enzootic cycles existing between lizard-tick-Borrelia interactions and highlights the importance of an eco-immunology lens for zoonotic pathogen transmission studies.

中文翻译：

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蜥蜴和伯氏疏螺旋体的地方性动物流行周期


新出现和重新出现的病原体通常源于人畜共患病，在人类和动物之间循环，并且经常由食血节肢动物媒介传播和维持。这些疾病病原体在脊椎动物宿主之间成功传播的效率受到许多因素的影响，包括媒介赖以生存的宿主。莱姆病细菌伯氏疏螺旋体已经适应了在复杂的宿主环境中生存，以硬蜱为媒介，并维持在多种脊椎动物宿主中。莱姆疏螺旋体在不同宿主环境中的多功能性是研究病原体通过脊椎动物和蜱的复杂网络传播的机制的一个引人注目的平台。有鳞目是现存爬行动物中最多样化的分支之一，主要由蜥蜴组成，其中许多蜥蜴很容易被蜱虫捕食。然而，蜥蜴是研究最少的类群之一，有可能有助于莱姆疏螺旋体的传播和生命周期维持。在这篇综述中，我们总结了当前的证据，从现场监测到实验室感染研究，支持它们对莱姆疏螺旋体循环的贡献。我们还总结了目前对不同蜥蜴免疫反应的理解，这可能解释了莱姆螺旋体在脊椎动物宿主中生存的潜在分子机制。这篇综述对蜥蜴-蜱-疏螺旋体相互作用之间存在的潜在地方性动物循环提供了批判性的视角，并强调了生态免疫学视角对于人畜共患病原体传播研究的重要性。