Babesia microti in adult Dermacentor reticulatus ticks from eastern Poland

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2012 Oct;12(10):841-3. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2011.0904. Epub 2012 May 31.

Abstract

A total of 468 adult Dermacentor reticulatus ticks (298 females and 170 males) collected by flagging in the forests of Lubelskie province, eastern Poland, were analyzed by PCR and nested-PCR for the presence of Babesia microti DNA. In all, 21 ticks (4.5%) were found to be infected with B. microti. The infection rate in females (5.0%) was slightly greater than in males (3.5%). Detection of B. microti for the first time in adult D. reticulatus ticks suggests that this species should be considered as a potential vector of B. microti in Europe.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arachnid Vectors / parasitology*
  • Babesia microti / genetics
  • Babesia microti / isolation & purification*
  • Babesiosis / transmission*
  • DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Dermacentor / parasitology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Poland
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Zoonoses / transmission

Substances

  • DNA, Protozoan