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

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1999 Jul;18(7):515-7. doi: 10.1007/s100960050335.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Borrelia / classification
  • Borrelia / isolation & purification*
  • Borrelia Infections / epidemiology
  • Borrelia Infections / transmission
  • Borrelia burgdorferi Group / isolation & purification
  • Czech Republic / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Ixodes / microbiology*
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / microbiology
  • Urban Health