Incidence of Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii in Ixodes ricinus ticks in an urban environment, Prague, Czech Republic, between 1995 and 1998

Abstract

The presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and its individual genospecies was determined using a single-step polymerase chain reaction in a total of 779 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from an urban park in Prague, Czech Republic. The incidence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato was 9.2% in 1995, 3.4% in 1996, 4.5% in 1997 and 2.8% in 1998. The Borrelia garinii to Borrelia afzelii ratio was 1.4:1 and it did not differ significantly throughout the study period. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was not detected. Borrelia garinii/Borrelia afzelii coinfection was found in 5.7% of positive ticks. The results indicate it is possible for the urban population to come in contact with the causative agent of Lyme disease in an urban park.