Molecular Identification of <i>Borreliella</i> Species in <i>Ixodes hexagonus</i> Ticks Infesting Hedgehogs (<i>Erinaceus europaeus</i> and <i>E. roumanicus</i>) in North-Western Poland.

ABSTRACT: The western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and the northern white-breasted hedgehog (E. roumanicus) are natural hosts of the tick Ixodes hexagonus, the vector of tick-borne pathogens such as the Borreliella bacteria responsible for Lyme disease. The aim of this study was to identify these pathogens in ticks collected from hedgehogs in northwestern Poland and to assess their genetic diversity by molecular analysis of the detected pathogens based on the flaB gene and the mag-trnI intergenic spacer. Among 101 hedgehogs examined, 737 ticks were found on 56 (55.45%) individuals, including 501 females of I. hexagonus. Borreliella spirochete infection was confirmed in 9 females of I. hexagonus (1.8%) obtained from 4 (3.96%) h

SUBMITTER: Valentyna K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11719967 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature