Molecular evidence of coinfection of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, human granulocytic ehrlichiosis agent, and Babesia microti in ticks from northwestern Poland

J Parasitol. 2003 Feb;89(1):194-6. doi: 10.1645/0022-3395(2003)089[0194:MEOCOB]2.0.CO;2.

Abstract

To assess the potential risk for tick-borne agents, Ixodes ricinus were collected from 2 sites in northwestern Poland. The ticks were tested by polymerase chain reaction for coinfection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s. l.), human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent, and Babesia microti. Of the 533 processed ticks, 16.7% were positive for B. burgdorferi s. l., 13.3% for B. microti, and 4.5% for the HGE agent. Twenty ticks were coinfected with 2 or 3 of the pathogens.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / genetics
  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification*
  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / physiology
  • Animals
  • Arachnid Vectors / microbiology*
  • Arachnid Vectors / parasitology*
  • Babesia microti / genetics
  • Babesia microti / isolation & purification*
  • Babesia microti / physiology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / genetics
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification*
  • Borrelia burgdorferi / physiology
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
  • DNA, Ribosomal / analysis
  • Ehrlichiosis / microbiology
  • Ehrlichiosis / transmission
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ixodes / microbiology*
  • Ixodes / parasitology*
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology
  • Lyme Disease / transmission
  • Male
  • Poland
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Ribosomal / genetics
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • DNA, Protozoan
  • DNA, Ribosomal
  • RNA, Ribosomal