RESEARCH PAPER
Study on tick-borne rickettsiae in eastern Poland: I. Prevalence in Dermacentor reticulatus (Acari: Amblyommidae)
 
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1
Department of Zoonoses, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
 
2
Department of Parasitology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Puławy, Poland
 
 
Corresponding author
Angelina Wójcik-Fatla   

Department of Zoonoses, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2013;20(2):276-279
 
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Rickettsia spp. transmitted by ticks are classified mostly in the Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiae (SFGR). Numerous species of this group have been identified in Eurasia as emerging pathogens, but still little is known about their occurrence, effects on human health, and co-incidence with other tick-borne pathogens. The aim of the presented study was to determine the prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in adult Dermacentor reticulatus (Acari: Amblyommidae) ticks collected in Lublin province of eastern Poland using the PCR method. The infection rate of D. reticulatus with Rickettsia spp. was 53.0%. All except one rickettsial isolates showed 100% homology with Rickettsia raoultii. A high prevalence of R. raoultii in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks from eastern Poland suggests that the SFGR species should be considered as potential causative agents of tick-borne diseases in this area.
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