Występowanie Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. w wybranych populacjach kleszczy Ixodes ricinus na terenie Nadbużańskiego Parku Krajobrazowego

Background. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks within Nadbużański Landscape Park (central−eastern Mazovian province, Poland). Material and methods. A total of 685 of ticks (187 adults, 393 nymphs and 105 larvae) were collected in the surroundings of seven places: Korczew, Sterdyń, Ceranów, Miedza, Stoczek, Sadowne, Łochów. Results. The spirochetes DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 60 samples of DNA (8.8%) of the total number of tested ticks (taking into consideration minimal infection rate in pool by 5 nymphs or larvae). The infection rate in females, males, nymphs and larvae was 18.8%, 13.8%, 6.1% and 3.8%, respectively. The highest percentage of spirochete infection (14.1%) was detected in ticks occurring within the Łochów, while the lowest (2.7%) from Stoczek.