Abstract
The sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) hematophagous insect may act as a potential vector of vector-borne pathogens. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of Trypanosoma spp., Bartonella spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in sheep ked collected from sheep in Poland. In total, Trypanosoma spp. was detected in 58.91% of M. ovinus, whereas Bartonella spp. and B. burgdorferi s.l. were found in 86.82% and 1.55% of the studied insects, respectively. A. phagocytophilum was not detected in the studied material. In turn, co-infection by Trypanosoma spp. and Bartonella spp. was detected in 50.39%, while co-infection with Trypanosoma spp. and Bartonella spp. and B. burgdorferi s.l. was found in 1.55% of the studied insects. The conducted study showed for the first time the presence of B. burgdorferi s. l. in M. ovinus, as well as for the first time in Poland the presence of Trypanosoma spp. and Bartonella spp. The obtained results suggest that these insects may be a potential vector for these pathogens, but further-more detailed studies are required.
Highlights
The sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) hematophagous insect may act as a potential vector of vectorborne pathogens
Bartonella spp. was detected in 50.39%, while co-infection with Trypanosoma spp. and Bartonella spp. and B. burgdorferi s.l. was found in 1.55% of the studied insects
The presence of B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 2 of the 129 (1.55%) sheep keds, whereas no A. phagocytophilum was detected in the tested group of insects
Summary
The sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) hematophagous insect may act as a potential vector of vectorborne pathogens. Trypanosoma spp. was detected in 58.91% of M. ovinus, whereas Bartonella spp. and B. burgdorferi s.l. were found in 86.82% and 1.55% of the studied insects, respectively. The sheep ked (Melophagus ovinus) is a blood-sucking wingless ectoparasite of sheep Their life-cycle consists of three stages: larva, pupa and adult, and occurs in the fleece of the sheep host and can be carried from one sheep to another by direct c ontact[4]. The sheep ked parasitizes mainly sheep, their incidental occurrence has been reported in red fox, rabbit and the European bison[4,5]. This species of flies occurs in North America, Oceania, Asia, China, Africa and Europe[4,6]. The sheep keds have an economic impact by reducing the production of meat, milk and the wool of sheep, and the infestation of sheep has harmful effects, such as: weight loss, anemia, anxiety and reduction in wool growth
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