Lagunova et al.
Co-infections with multiple pathogens in natural populations of Ixodes persulcatus ticks in Mongolia
Parasit Vectors. 2022;15(1):236. doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05356-x
In Mongolia, Ixodes persulcatus is the main vector of various pathogens, including the TBE virus (see e.g., Snapshot 39/2019 and Snapshot 20/2019).
To learn more about the spatial and temporal distribution of ticks and associated pathogens, a total of 138 and 208 I. persulcatus ticks were collected in 2019 in the administrative provinces of Bulgan and Selenge (in northern Mongolia) which represent the most humid climate conditions in this country.
The overall prevalence of TBE virus in I. persulcatus ticks was 1.7% with no significant difference between Selenge (1.4%) and Bulgan (2.2%) provinces and was in line with previously published study results.
More than 64% of analyzed ticks were infected with at least one of the four pathogens TBE virus, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., B. miyamotoi and Ehrlichia sp.
Neither Rickettsia sibirica nor R. heilonggjiangensis were detected in ticks.
A total of 32.2% of the ticks had co-infections. Co-infections in ticks of TBE virus was observed with B. burgdorferi s.l., A. phagocytophilium and Ehrlichia sp.