Pathogens carried by Ixodes ricinus and Dermacentor reticulatus ticks including coinfections.

ABSTRACT

Ticks and tick-borne pathogens are becoming an emerging threat to the health of both humans and animals. The number of cases of tick-borne diseases, especially Lyme disease, is constantly growing. Over the last several years, coinfections, which could be explained as presence of two of more pathogens in one organism are being observed with growing interest. Their occurrence may lead to severe or unusual symptoms, prolonged disease duration, diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties. Research on this subject concerns mainly ticks of the species Ixodes ricinus, however, literature data suggest that also the species Dermacentor reticulatus plays an important role as a vector of tick-borne pathogens.