dc.description.abstract | Dermacentor reticulatus is an important vector of several pathogens, including Babesia canis.
Currently, D. reticulatus ticks appear in the vegetation of the Netherlands and Belgium. Adult ticks
were collected from the vegetation of three places including Panne, Belgium (n=208), the Dintelse
Gorzen, the Netherlands (n=40) and Rozenburg, the Netherlands (n=40). The ticks were screened for
the presence of Babesia canis and also for other Babesia and Theileria species, using Reverse Line
Blot (RLB) and PCR techniques. D. reticulatus ticks were infected with Theileria equi-like (17.1%),
Babesia sp. (6.8%) and Babesia canis (3.5%). We concluded that a broader spectrum of tick-borne
pathogens is present in D. reticulatus ticks from the vegetation of the Netherlands and Belgium than
previously thought. | |