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dr Anna Pańczuk, dr hab. Małgorzata Tokarska-Rodak, prof. ucz., mgr Patrycja Andrzejuk

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ABSTRACT

Introduction: Ixodes ricinus ticks are an important vector and reservoir of pathogenic microorganisms causing dangerous
infectious diseases in humans and animals. The presence of ticks in urban greenery is a particularly important public health concern
due to the potential for humans and companion animals to be exposed to tick-borne diseases there. The study assessed the
prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in I. ricinus ticks feeding on dogs. Material and
Methods: The study consisted in analyses of I. ricinus ticks collected in 2018–2020 from owned and stray dogs in the north-eastern
part of Lubelskie province (eastern Poland). An AmpliSens PCR kit was used for qualitative detection and differentiation of tickborne infections. Results: Infections of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum were detected in 10.9% and 12.9% of the examined
ticks, respectively. One tick (0.7%) was co-infected by both pathogens. Infection with B. burgdorferi was significantly more highly
prevalent in ticks collected from the owned dogs than from the strays (18.7% and 2.8%, respectively), whereas the prevalence of
A. phagocytophilum was similar in both groups (12.0% and 13.9%, respectively).
Conclusion: The co-infection observed in the study suggests the possibility of simultaneous infection by both pathogens from a single tick bite. The presence of pathogens in ticks collected from dogs is a factor in assessing infection risk not only to companion animals but also to their owners, who are in close contact with their dogs and visit the same green areas recreationally.