title: Bartonella henselae in Ixodes ricinus ticks removed from dogs.
abstract: Bartonella spp. is an etiologic agent of vector-borne infections. Bartonella spp. was searched for in adult Ixodes ricinus ticks removed from dogs and cats using specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence analysis of gltA gene. Bartonella henselae DNA was detected in 5 of 102 tested ticks. All PCR-positive ticks were removed from dogs. Four of were engorged, one was unfed. The data demonstrate that B. henselae is able to inhabit ticks. This is the first report about the existence of B. henselae in ticks removed from dogs. It is, however, an open issue that needs further investigation if ticks consist a new competent vector involved in transmission of bartonellosis.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland. epodsiadly@pzh.gov.pl
authors.forename: Edyta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Podsiadly
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chmielewski
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sochon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tylewska-Wierzbanowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000382:microbiology*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D018416:Bartonella henselae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D004199:Disease Vectors; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011044:Poland; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial