Survey of tickborne infections in Denmark

Emerg Infect Dis. 2005 Jul;11(7):1055-61. doi: 10.3201/eid1107.041265.

Abstract

We conducted a study of the distribution and prevalence of tickborne infections in Denmark by using roe deer as sentinels. Blood samples from 237 roe deer were collected during the 2002-2003 hunting season. Overall, 36.6% of deer were Borrelia seropositive, while 95.6% were Anaplasma phagocytophilum positive; all animals were negative for Bartonella quintana and B. henselae by indirect immunofluorescence assay. When a hemagglutination-inhibition test was used, 8.7% of deer were found positive for tickborne encephalitis (TBE)-complex virus. A total of 42.6% were found positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for A. phagocytophilum with significant seasonal variation. All were PCR negative for Rickettsia helvetica. PCR and sequencing also showed a novel bacterium in roe deer previously only found in ticks. The study showed that the emerging pathogen A. phagocytophilum is widely distributed and that a marked shift has occurred in the distribution of TBE-complex virus in Denmark. This finding supports studies that predict alterations in distribution due to climatic changes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Anaplasmosis / epidemiology
  • Animals
  • Arthropod Vectors
  • Bartonella Infections / epidemiology
  • Bartonella Infections / veterinary
  • Deer / microbiology*
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Disease Reservoirs
  • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
  • Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / epidemiology
  • Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / veterinary
  • Lyme Disease / epidemiology
  • Lyme Disease / veterinary
  • Rickettsia Infections / epidemiology
  • Rickettsia Infections / veterinary
  • Sentinel Surveillance
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary*