Infection of tick-borne pathogens of games in Lithuania

Abstract

Ticks are excellent vectors for disease transmission and tick-borne diseases are widespread. Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular bacterium that has a broad host range, Babesia is emerging as cause of tick-borne zoonosis worldwide and free-living animals are reservoir hosts of several zoonotic Babesia species. Bartonella spp. are vector-transmitted, blood-borne, intracellular, gram-negative bacteria. These pathogens may cause disease in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of A. phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Bartonella spp. in game in Lithuania. A total of 313 animals of different species (roe deer, sika deer, red deer, fallow deer, moose, wild boar, lynx and american mink) were sampled from 2013 to 2016 in Lithuania. DNA obtained from blood and spleen samples was extracted, and PCR was performed to examine the presence of A.phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Bartonella spp. In present study A. phagocytophilum DNA was detected in roe deer (47%; 51/114), sika deer (5%; 1/20), red deer (13%; 4/30), fallow deer (26%; 3/12), moose (83%; 5/6), american mink (12.5%; 1/8) and lynx (1/2). Babesia spp. DNA was found in roe deer (45%; 51/108), wild boar (3%; 3/100), sika deer (9%; 2/23), red deer (27%; 7/26), fallow deer (26%; 5/19), and moose (83%; 5/6). Bartonella spp. DNA was detected in roe deer (15.7%; 17/108), sika deer (10%; 2/20), red deer (10%, 3/30), moose (2/5), fallow deer (16.7%; 2/12). The present study represents of A.phagocytophilum, Babesia spp., Bartonella spp. in wild animals and shows the broad distribution of this pathogen in Lithuania.