Screeningonderzoek naar teken en door teken overgedragen ziekten bij groot wild in Nederland.

Abstract

The goal of this research was to investigate the role of large game animals (roe deer, red deer, wild boar and mouflon) in the Netherlands as a reservoir of tick-transmitted diseases. The DNA of 166 ticks and 22 bloodsamples were examined on the presence of a couple of different pathogenes (Babesia, Borrelia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia/Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Nicolleia) by means of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and RLB (Reverse Line Blot). Results showed the following rates of infection in game animals: Babesia 77%, Borrelia 0%, Bartonella 59%, Ehrlicha/Anaplasma 82%, Rickettsia 0%, Nicolleia 0% - and in ticks: Babesia 11%, Borrelia 8%, Bartonella 17%, Ehrlicha/Anaplasma 60%, Rickettsia 14%, Nicolleia 53%. Conclusion: large game animals appear to form a reservoir for Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia/Anaplasma. However, Babesia is not transmitted verry efficiently from these game animals to the ticks.