Direct detection of tick-borne pathogens in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from dogs and cats in Tuscany, Italy

Abstract

Ticks are able to transmit pathogens which represent an health risk for domestic animals and humans. In this study, ticks morphologically identified as Ixodes ricinus were collected from dogs and cats presented at local veterinary practice in Pistoia, Tuscany. Ticks were examined by PCR in order to detect tick-borne pathogens. Out of 37 I. ricinus ticks analyzed, one tick (3%) was 100% similar to R. helvetica after PCR analyses and sequencing. DNA of Eh. canis was detected in four I. ricinus ticks (12%) . Bartonella spp. DNAs with 100% identity with Bartonella henselae were identified in two I. ricinus (5%) collected from one dog and one cat. One tick showed 100% similarity with C. abortus , while 16 I. ricinus ticks exhibithed DNA of C. psittaci . DNAs of piroplasmids, Anaplasma spp., and C. burnetii were not detected in this study. Findings expand knowledge about the repertoire of tick-borne bacteria present in ticks from Tuscany and indicate that cats and dogs are exposed to tick-borne pathogen which represent a medical risk for their owners.