First report of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and its co-infections with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) from Republic of Moldova.
We examined 198 questing Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in Chisinau City, Republic of Moldova by PCR assays for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and co-infection of both pathogens, which were detected in 9%, 25.2% and 2.5% of tested ticks, respectively. B. burgdorferi s.l. genotyping revealed the presence of five genospecies with dominance of B. garinii. Our preliminary study provides evidence about occurrence of both pathogens in this populated area, which represent a potential health risk for inhabitants.
Koci
Juraj
J
Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, Bratislava 84245, Slovakia. virukoci@savba.sk
Movila
Alexandru
A
Taragel'ová
Veronika
V
Toderas
Ion
I
Uspenskaia
Inga
I
Derdáková
Markéta
M
Labuda
Milan
M
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D015748:Borrelia burgdorferi Group / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D045303:Cytochromes b / Q000235:genetics; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D007814:Larva; D008966:Moldova; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D045303:Cytochromes b