Abstract
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) causes the most common tick-borne infection in Europe, with Germany being amongst the countries with the highest incidences in humans. This study aimed at (1) comparing infection rates of B. burgdorferi s.l. in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from different habitat types in Southern Germany, (2) analysing genospecies distribution by habitat type, and (3) testing tissue and ticks from hosts for B. burgdorferi s.l. Questing ticks from urban, pasture, and natural habitats together with feeding ticks from cattle (pasture) and ticks and tissue samples from wild boars and roe deer (natural site) were tested by PCR and RFLP for species differentiation. B. burgdorferi s.l. was found in 29.8% questing adults and 15% nymphs. Prevalence was lower at the urban sites with occurrence of roe deer than where these were absent. Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. DNA was found in 4.8% ticks from roe deer, 6.3% from wild boar, and 7.8% from cattle. Six genospecies were identified in unfed ticks: Borrelia afzelii (48.6%), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (16%), Borrelia garinii (13.2%), Borrelia valaisiana (7.5%), Borrelia spielmanii (6.2%), and Borrelia bavariensis (0.9%). This study shows high infection levels and a great diversity of Borrelia in questing ticks. The presence of roe deer seems to reduce B. burgdorferi s.l. infection rates in tick populations.
Highlights
The aims of this study were (1) to compare prevalence rates with B. burgdorferi s.l. in questing I. ricinus ticks from different habitat types, (2) to analyse species distribution of the B. burgdorferi s.l. complex according to habitat type, and (3) to analyse hosts feeding
The higher number of urban sites included in this study is justified by the higher probability of ticks to feed on humans compared to pasture or natural habitats
366 I. ricinus ticks were obtained (93 females, 132 males, 140 nymphs, and one larvae), while 338 ticks were collected from the natural habitat type
Summary
Spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) complex cause Lyme borreliosis, the most common tick-borne infection in humans in Europe [1,2]. At least five of the 22 identified genospecies are known to be pathogenic to humans, causing a large spectrum of clinical manifestations [1,5,6,7]. Of these human pathogenic genospecies, B. afzelii and B. garinii are the most common ones in Europe [8].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call