Spirochetes from the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.). (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae) species complex, including the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, have been isolated from ticks, vertebrate reservoirs and humans. Previous analyses based on direct molecular detection in ticks indicated a considerable diversity of B. burgdorferi s.l. complex in Serbia. The present study aimed (a) to isolate borrelia strains from Serbia; (b) to determine their genotypic characteristics; and (c) to establish a collection of viable B. burgdorferi s.l. strains for further biological, ecological and genetic studies. For the present study, 231 adult Ixodes ricinus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) ticks from 16 ecologically different localities in Serbia were individually processed to cultivate B. burgdorferi s.l. This led to the isolation of 36 strains. A hbb gene quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based on melting temperature determination and ospA gene sequencing were used to genotype the isolated spirochetes. The species identified based on the hbb gene real‐time PCR were: Borrelia lusitaniae (44.4%), Borrelia afzelii (36.1%), Borrelia garinii (13.9%) and Borrelia valaisiana (5.6%), whereas the ospA sequence analysis revealed the occurrence of Borrelia bavariensis. This is the first report of the isolation of B. lusitaniae, B. garinii, B. bavariensis and B. valaisiana strains in Serbia.
Ticks parasitizing bats have been largely understudied, especially in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula, where the last data from the field research date from almost 25 years ago. Bats are hosts to a large number of ectoparasites, including ticks, which can act as vectors of zoonotic agents. For this reason, it is important to identify the distribution of ticks and their relationship to different hosts, including wild animals, bats in particular. The present research was conducted at 16 localities throughout Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). We examined 475 individuals of bats belonging to 13 species. A total of three tick species were identified, I. simplex being the most numerous and widespread, followed by I. vespertilionis and A. vespertilionis. To the best of our knowledge, the presented data include the first records of I. simplex in Serbia and Montenegro, I. vespertilionis for Montenegro and A. vespertilionis in FYROM. Also, we identify a new possible host/parasite association between I. simplex and Rhinolophus euryale.
In order to evaluate the prevalence rate of Babesia spp. in ticks collected from vegetation at seven localities in northern Serbia, tick samples were subjected to molecular analysis. A total of 132 unfed adult ticks of five different species (Dermacentor marginatus, Dermacentor reticulatus, Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis concinna and Haemaphysalis punctata), were examined by PCR for the presence of Babesia spp. Out of the analyzed ticks, 10.61% (14/132) were positive for babesial DNA. The presence of babesiae was found at the localities Pančevački Rit, Titov Gaj, Makiš, PKB and Kljajićevo. Prevalence in D. reticulatus ticks was 21.57% (11/51) and in H. concinna ticks, 8.57% (3/35). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed a clustering of the obtained sequences with those of B. canis from the GenBank database. These results add to the knowledge of the distribution of babesial pathogens and their vectors in Serbia. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. ON 173006
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