High Prevalence of Granulocytic Ehrlichiae and Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato in Ixodes ricinus Ticks from Bulgaria

Abstract

Bulgarian Ixodes ricinus ticks were examined for Ehrlichia and Borrelia coinfection: 34 and 32% of adult ticks and at least 2 and 10% of nymphs were positive for these infections, respectively. Coinfections and dual or triple Borrelia infections were frequent, although Ehrlichia phagocytophila heterogeneity was minimal. Multiple tick-borne bacteria coexist in I. ricinus ticks in southeastern Europe

Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia divergens in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Lithuania and Norway

“…In studies conducted in mid-eastern, northern, and north-eastern Poland, the observed prevalences of A. phagocytophilum in I. ricinus were higher with 13.1%, 16%, and 19.2%, respectively (Grzeszczuk et al, 2002;Stańczak et al, 2002;Tomasiewicz et al, 2004). In a study in Switzerland, the prevalence of infection was found to be 0.8% (Pusterla et al, 1998), in eastern Slovakia 13.3% (Derdakova et al, 2003), and in Bulgaria, it was quite high with 34% (Christova et al, 2001). …”

Prevalence of Anaplasma Phagocytophila and Borrelia Burgdorferi in Ixodes Persulcatus Ticks From Northeastern China

“…12 Higher prevalences were reported in I. scapularis and I. pacificus in the United States, 5,6,8,9,22 and in I. ricinus in Europe. 10,11,15,16,23 This discrepancy in positive rates could be attributable to differences in sampling approaches, tick species, geographic and seasonal variations of infected ticks, or to 24 All these findings imply that estimates based on spot investigations may have only local and temporary applicability, and have limited value in forming public health policy.…”

“…Coinfection of ixodid ticks with A. phagocytophila and B. burgdorferi has been reported in the United States and many European countries with various prevalences. 9,10,15,16,24 In our study, seven of 62 ehrlichiapositive ticks were found to harbor both A. phagocytophila and B. burgdorferi. Coexistence of the two pathogens in I. persulcatus ticks from Asia has not been previously reported.…”

“…Coinfection of ticks with A. phagocytophila and B. burgdorferi has been increasingly reported in recent years. [13][14][15][16] Northeastern China is highly endemic for Lyme disease, 17 where the infection rate of B. burgdorferi in adult I. persulcatus ticks can be as high as 44.1%. 18 Recently, the presence of A. phagocytophila in ticks from the region has been reported.…”

C6 Peptides fromBorrelia BurgdorferiSensu Stricto,Borrelia AfzeliiandBorrelia Gariniias Antigens for Serological Diagnosis of Lyme Borreliosis

“…in europe, the other two Borrelia species (B. garinii and B. afzelii) are usually dominant. our studies on the infectivity of Bulgarian ticks have shown that they are mostly infected with B. afzelii, followed by B. burgdorferi sensu stricto and B. garinii (3). this discrepancy between abundant B. afzelii in our ticks and predominant B. burgdorferi sensu stricto reactivity of the sera from patients with lyme borreliosis in Bulgaria could be explained by a hypothesis about different pathogenic potential of the different Borrelia species.…”