Abstract
The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence and coinfection rates of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genotypes in Ixodes ricinus (L.) ticks sampled from diverse localities in central and eastern regions of Poland. In years 2009-2011, questing nymphs and adults of I. ricinus were collected using a flagging method at 18 localities representing distinct ecosystem types: urban green areas, suburban forests and rural woodlands. Molecular detection of B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies was based on amplification of a fla gene using nested PCR technique, subsequent PCR-RFLP analysis and bidirectional sequencing. It was revealed that 45 samples (2.1%) harboured two different B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies, whereas triple infections with various spirochetes was found in 11 (0.5%) individuals. Generally, the highest average coinfection rates were evidenced in arachnids gathered at rural woodlands, intermediate at suburban forests, while the lowest were recorded at urban green areas. Overall, single spirochete infections were noted in 16.3% (n = 352/2,153) ticks. Importantly, it is the first report evidencing the occurrence of Borrelia miyamotoi (0.3%, n = 7/2153) in I. ricinus populations within central Poland. Circumstantial variability of B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies in the common tick individuals sampled at various habitat types in central and eastern Poland was displayed. The coexistence of two or three different spirochete genospecies in single adult ticks, as well as the presence of B. miyamotoi were demonstrated. Therefore, further studies uncovering the co-circulation of the tested bacteria and other human pathogens in I. ricinus ticks are required.
Highlights
The common tick (Ixodes ricinus L.) serves as a primary European vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), a complex group of the causative agents of Lyme disease
Moderate size of I. ricinus populations was noted at rural woodlands localized in Łódź district (n = 224), suburban forests of Łódź (n = 197) and green zones in Warszawa (n = 150), whereas the lowest density of populations revealed at urban green areas of Biała Podlaska (n = 29), Tomaszów Mazowiecki (n = 44) and Węgrów (n = 46)
Rural woodlands characterized with the greatest levels of the common ticks abundance (n = 565), intermediate number of individuals was found at suburban forests (n = 355), whereas the least density occurred at urban green zones (n = 240)
Summary
The common tick (Ixodes ricinus L.) serves as a primary European vector of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), a complex group of the causative agents of Lyme disease (borreliosis). It is the most frequent tick-borne infection in humans affecting a wide range of organs, e.g. skin, joints, heart or nervous system (Fingerle et al 2008). Tick abundance depends on multitude of environmental factors, such as air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, host cenosis, degree of anthropogenic interference, heterogeneity and buffer capacity of habitat (Derdáková and Lencáková 2005; Schwarz et al 2012; Pangrácová et al 2013; Schulz et al 2014). A transstadial transmission of B. burgdorferi s.l. is predominant in ticks, a transovarial route of transmission has been postulated by some authors (Derdáková and Lencáková 2005)
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