Pathogens in ticks collected from dogs in Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tick-borne diseases are a major health risk for humans and dogs. In addition to collection and analysis of questing ticks, analysis of host-associated ticks for the presence of pathogens is a valuable method to gain insight into transmission patterns of tick-borne diseases.

Methods

Ticks were collected from dogs living in the Berlin/Brandenburg area. The three tick species Ixodes ricinus, Ixodes hexagonus and Dermacentor reticulatus were examined for the presence of Babesia spp., Borrelia spp., Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasmataceae. Conventional PCR followed by sequencing was used for pathogen detection and characterization.

Results

Babesia spp. were found in 2.5% and 3% of I. ricinus and I. hexagonus, respectively. Sequencing revealed the presence of Babesia

SUBMITTER: Schreiber C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4262381 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature