Prevalence of Tick-Borne Pathogens in Questing Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus Ticks Collected from Recreational Areas in Northeastern Poland with Analysis of Environmental Factors

Abstract

Ticks, such as Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus, act as vectors for multiple pathogens posing a threat to both human and animal health. As the process of urbanization is progressing, those arachnids are being more commonly encountered in urban surroundings. In total, 1112 I. ricinus (n = 842) and D. reticulatus (n = 270) ticks were collected from several sites, including recreational urban parks, located in Augustów and Białystok, Poland. Afterwards, the specimens were examined for the presence of Borrelia spp., Babesia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., and Coxiella burnetii using the PCR method. Overall obtained infection rate reached 22.4% (249/1112). In total, 26.7% (225/842) of I. ricinus was infected, namely with Borrelia spp. (25.2%; 212/842), Babesia spp. (2.0%; 17/842), and A. phagocytophilum (1.2%; 10/842). Among D. reticulatus ticks, 8.9% (24/270) were infected, specifically with Babesia spp. (7.0%; 19/270), A. phagocytophilum (1.1%; 3/270), and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. (0.7%; 2/270). No specimen tested positively for Rickettsia spp., Bartonella spp., or Coxiella burnetii. Co-infections were detected in 14 specimens. Results obtained in this study confirm that I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks found within the study sites of northeastern Poland are infected with at least three pathogens. Evaluation of the prevalence of pathogens in ticks collected from urban environments provides valuable information, especially in light of the growing number of tick-borne infections in humans and domesticated animals.