title: Seasonal and habitat variation in the prevalence of Rickettsia helvetica in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Denmark.
abstract: A total of 704 unfed ticks of the species Ixodes ricinus collected in Denmark were screened for Rickettsia DNA by a genus-specific real-time PCR. Of the nymphs, 4.7% (31/662) were positive for rickettsial DNA. Among the positive ticks, we observed a seasonal and habitat variation. The infection rate was highest in May as compared to July, August, and October. Ecotone (high tick density) showed an elevated prevalence as compared to spruce or beech forests. Sequencing revealed only DNA from R. helvetica.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Mycology and Parasitology, Statens Serum Institut, 5 Artillerivej, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark. bjk@ssi.dk
authors.forename: Bjørn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kantsø
authors.forename: Claus Bo
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: Per Moestrup
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vennestrøm
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Krogfelt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001096:Arachnid Vectors / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D003718:Denmark; D017753:Ecosystem; D018884:Ixodes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology*; D009758:Nymph / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons; D014197:Trees / Q000469:parasitology