Two decades of research on Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks in Slovakia.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In Europe, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.), the causative agent of Lyme borreliosis is transmitted by the castor bean tick, Ixodes ricinus. In the last decades, global changes affect the spread of ticks and also their bionomics. The aim of this study was summarization of a large dataset obtained during 20 years of research.

Methods

The research was carried out in 1999-2019 at 16 localities in Slovakia that were continuously monitored. In total, 17,249 questing I. ricinus ticks were tested for the presence of B. burgdorferi s.l.

Results

The total prevalence of infected ticks was 18.8% (3,248/17,249), with 15.1% (1,557/10,302) infected nymphs and 24.3% (1,691/6,947) infected adults. Nine species of B. burgdorferi s.

SUBMITTER: Rusnakova Taragelova V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11673768 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature