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

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.