Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
A total of 739 taiga ticks of Ixodes persulcatus species, obtained in the recreational zone of St. Petersburg, were studied for the presence of Babesia sp. with polymerase chain reaction. All these ticks underwent the preliminary examination for the presence of Borrelia (3 species), Ehrlichia (2 species) and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus. In 7 cases Babesia were detected among 413 ticks containing other pathogens. Among 326 ticks no Babesia were detected, as well as no other pathogens. All ticks having Babesia were also found to contain Borrelia species: B.afzelii, B. garinii, or both (1 case). In one female tick, in addition to Babesia, also B.garinii and TBE virus were determined. The data thus obtained should draw special attention not only of parasitologists, epidemiologists and microbiologists studying ticks obtained from natural sources, but also of clinicists who should consider the possibility of mixed infection, when one infection may mask the presence of some other infection, in particular babesiosis. Due to rare occurrence of Babesia in ticks and the presence of mixed infection difficulties may arise in the detection of Babesia.
Zh. Mikrobiol. (Moscow), 2003, No. 3, P. 39—43