Absence of Borrelia spp. in Urban Pest Animals from Peninsular Malaysia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22452/jtoh.vol1.3Keywords:
Borrelia spp., urban pest animals, urban ecology, zoonotic surveillanceAbstract
Urbanization is rapidly influencing zoonotic disease dynamics, yet the presence of Borrelia spp., which are the causative agents of Lyme disease and relapsing fever, within Malaysia’s high-density urban environments remains poorly characterized. This study provides the first molecular investigation of Borrelia prevalence among small mammal hosts in two major urban locations, namely Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Archived spleen DNA samples from 120 selected rodents and shrews were screened using an optimized nested PCR targeting the flaB gene, a highly sensitive and specific genetic marker for Borrelia identification. Despite the validated efficacy of the assay, all 120 screened samples yielded negative results, confirming an overall prevalence of 0% in the sampled populations. This non-detection contrasts sharply with reports from rural and forested regions of Malaysia, suggesting that urbanization may disrupt the vector-host transmission cycle through altered habitat and microclimate circumstances. These findings provide critical urban baseline data for Borrelia surveillance in Peninsular Malaysia and emphasize the need for integrated, One Health approaches, incorporating serological screening and tick vector assessments, to monitor potential shifts in Borrelia ecology within Malaysia’s expanding urban landscapes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Hadina Alya Hamdan, Tharane Ganasen, Farah Haziqah Meor Termizi, Shih Keng Loong, Sazaly AbuBakar, Jasmine E. Khairat, Norhidayu Sahimin (Author)
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© 2026 Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC). Journal of Tropical One Health is a diamond open access journal. Articles published are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) and are freely available to download, save, reproduce, and transmit strictly for non-commercial, scholarly, and educational purposes only. Reproduction and transmission of content for the above purposes are permitted with the condition that the author(s) and all original sources are duly credited. Permission must be obtained from the Tropical Infectious Diseases Research & Education Centre (TIDREC) prior to the use, reproduction, or distribution of content for commercial purposes.
