Prevalence of four species of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and coinfection with Anaplasma phagocytophila in Ixodes ricinus ticks in central Germany

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2003 Jun;22(6):364-7. doi: 10.1007/s10096-003-0926-2. Epub 2003 Jun 3.

Abstract

A total of 305 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from three areas of Thuringia in central Germany were investigated for infection with Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species and Anaplasma phagocytophila. Overall, 11.1% were infected with Borrelia burgdorferi and 2.3% with Anaplasma phagocytophila. Adult ticks showed a significantly higher rate of infection with both borreliae and Anaplasma phagocytophila. Borrelia garinii (55.9%) was detected most frequently, followed by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (32.4%), Borrelia afzelii (17.6%), and Borrelia valaisiana (5.9%). Four ticks had dual infection with Borrelia garinii and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. Two of the Borrelia-positive ticks were coinfected with Anaplasma phagocytophila.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Anaplasma / isolation & purification*
  • Animals
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / isolation & purification*
  • Comorbidity
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Ixodes / microbiology*
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology*
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Distribution
  • Tick Infestations / diagnosis
  • Tick Infestations / epidemiology*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial