Detection of Borrelia lusitaniae, Rickettsia sp. IRS3, Rickettsia monacensis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes ricinus collected in Madeira Island, Portugal

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2008 Aug;8(4):575-9. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2007.0245.

Abstract

A total of 300 Ixodes ricinus ticks were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp., and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Sequence analysis demonstrated 8 (2.7%) ticks infected with B. lusitaniae, 60 (20%) with Rickettsia spp., and 1 (0.3%) with A. phagocytophilum. Seven (2.3%) ticks were coinfected with B. lusitaniae and Rickettsia spp., 2 (0.6%) with R. monacensis, and 5 (1.7%) with Rickettsia sp. IRS3. The results of this study suggest simultaneous transmission of multiple tick-borne agents on Madeira Island, Portugal.

MeSH terms

  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification*
  • Animals
  • Borrelia / classification
  • Borrelia / isolation & purification*
  • Ixodes / microbiology*
  • Portugal
  • Rickettsia / classification
  • Rickettsia / isolation & purification*