Molecular detection and identification of piroplasms (Babesiaspp. andTheileriaspp.) andAnaplasma phagocytophilumin questing ticks from northwest Spain

Anaplasma phagocytophilumand some piroplasm species are pathogens mainly transmitted byIxodes ricinus. Considering that this tick species is predominant in north-western Spain, individual specimens (652 nymphs, 202 females and 202 males) and 23 larval pools were processed to determine the prevalence of these pathogens in questingI. ricinusfrom that region. Additionally,Dermacentor marginatus,Dermacentor reticulatus,Ixodes frontalisandIxodes acuminatuswere individually analysed. ThegroESLoperon as well as the 16S rRNA andmsp2genes ofAnaplasmawere analysed. Similarly, piroplasms were identified at the 18S rRNA gene and the ITS1 ofBabesiaspp. andTheileriaspp.Babesia venatorum(1.5%),A. phagocytophilum(0.7%),Babesia microti(0.3%) andTheileriasp. OT3 (0.2%) were detected inI. ricinus. A singleI. frontalis(8.3%) tested positive toA. phagocytophilum. Although a low percentage ofI. ricinuswere infected withA. phagocytophilumand piroplasms, a potentially human pathogenic variant ofA. phagocytophilumwas detected, and bothBabesiaspecies found were zoonotic. Since the vector ofTheileriasp. OT3 remains unknown, further investigations are needed to unravel the role ofI. ricinusin the transmission of this piroplasm.

Automated summary

This study investigated the prevalence of pathogens in ticks in north-western Spain, revealing a low percentage of ticks infected with A. phagocytophilum and piroplasms. A potentially human pathogenic variant of A. phagocytophilum was detected, along with zoonotic Babesia species. Further research is needed to determine the role of I. ricinus in the transmission of Theileria sp. OT3.