Identification of the Spectrum of Pathogens in Ixodid Ticks from Natural Co-Infection Foci of the Baikal Region

Abstract

Ixodid ticks from different regions of the Baikal Region were examined for the presence of transmissive pathogens during 5 seasons (2013–2017). Frequency of occurrence of the revealed markers in ascending order: tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV), human monocytic ehrlichiosis (HMC), human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), ixodid tick-borne borrelioses (ITBB), and tick-borne rickettsioses (TBR). The most significant differences in the rate of infection were noted in relation to spatial-temporal and species parameters. In the Baikal Region, infected ticks Ixodes persulcatus were found significantly more frequently than Haemaphysalis concinna. Besides, from 2 to 4 pathogens in different combinations were found simultaneously in 15% of suspensions of the taiga tick.