The prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus tick (Acarina, Ixodidae) collected at the foci of Chisinau city, Republic of Moldova

Totally, 9% of tested ticks were infected with A. phagocylophilum. We received 25.2% yielded positive PCR results for B. burgdoorferi s.l. RFLP genotyping revealed wide range of Borrelia genospecies in questing ticks (Fig. 3). Detected genospecies were as follows: B. garinii (10.6%), B. afzelii (9%), B. valaisiana (4%), B. lusitaniae (1%) and B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (0.5%). We did not detect any mixed infections of Borrelia genospecies. Our data indicate that B. afzelii and B. garinii are most distributed on the territory of Chisinau city. These genospecies have important role as agents of different forms of Lyme disease. B. lusitaniae was found for the first time in Republic of Moldova. The pathogenic role of this Borrelia genospicies as agents of the new forms of Lyme borreliosis for Moldavian population will be the principal aim of our future investigations.