Detection of Borrelia lusitaniae, Rickettsia sp. IRS3, Rickettsia monacensis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus collected in Madeira Island, Portugal.
A total of 300 Ixodes ricinus ticks were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Sequence analysis demonstrated 8 (2.7%) ticks infected with B. lusitaniae, 60 (20%) with Rickettsia spp., and 1 (0.3%) with A. phagocytophilum. Seven (2.3%) ticks were coinfected with B. lusitaniae and Rickettsia spp., 2 (0.6%) with R. monacensis, and 5 (1.7%) with Rickettsia sp. IRS3. The results of this study suggest simultaneous transmission of multiple tick-borne agents on Madeira Island, Portugal.
de Carvalho
Isabel Lopes
IL
Centro de Estudos de Vectores e Doenças Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal. isabel.carvalho@insa.min-saude.pt
Milhano
Natacha
N
Santos
Ana Sofia
AS
Almeida
Victor
V
Barros
Silvia C
SC
De Sousa
Rita
R
Núncio
Maria Sofia
MS
D041081:Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001898:Borrelia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018884:Ixodes / Q000382:microbiology*; D011174:Portugal; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*