INCIDENCE OF BORRELIA BURGDORFERI S.L. AND ITS GENOMOSPECIES IN TICKS (IXODES RICINUS) COLLECTED IN PRAGUE 1994-1997

Abstract:
A total of 12,911 ticks were collected by flagging from 10 localities of the city Prague between 19941997. The detection of Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. was performed using the indirect immuno-fluorescence method (with polyclonal hyperimmune serum) and 635 ticks collected in a urban park were selected for polymerase chain reaction detection. The tick infestation observed by indirect immuno-fluorescence ranged from 3.9% (1996) to 8.9% (1995), while polymerase chain reaction revealed from 3.4% (1996) to 9.2% (1995). Borrelia garinii moderately dominated, Borrelia afzelii was the second genomospecies detected. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto has not been detected yet. Mixed infection B. garinii/ B. afzelii was recorded in one adult tick in 1997. Significant differences in tick infestation were observed between the seasons. No significant differences were found between the localities studied and their types (park, wooded park, wood) within one season. The results are indicative of the risk of acquiring Lyme borreliosis directly in the city.