Prevalence and distribution of Borrelia and Babesia species in ticks feeding on dogs in the U.K.

In this study, ticks were collected from dogs by veterinarians participating in a U.K.‐wide tick surveillance programme. The ticks were subjected to polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis for detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. and Babesia spp. pathogens, the distributions of which were mapped. DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. and Babesia spp. was detected in 2.0% and 1.5% of the ticks analysed, respectively. The results map a widespread distribution of the two pathogens in the U.K.
Source: Medical and Veterinary Entomology - Category: Veterinary Research Authors: Tags: Original Article Source Type: research