RESULTS OF RESEARCH ON THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STATUS OF IXODID TICKS IN THE TERNOPIL REGION IN 2024-2025
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/biosystems2026.01.034Keywords:
ixodid ticks, tick-borne infections, Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Erlichia sp., Babesia sp.Abstract
Ixodid ticks are parasitic arthropods that have been actively spreading from the south to the north of the European continent in general and Ukraine in particular over the last 10-15 years. Along with them, there has been an expansion in the distribution of various tick-borne infectious agents that threaten humans, agricultural animals, and domestic animals.
The aim of the research was to collect ticks from humans, animals, and the environment and examine them for the presence of pathogens that cause infectious diseases in humans, farm animals, and pets. To analyze the latest research by European scientists on this issue and compare it with our results to identify possible patterns or exceptions.
During 2024-2025, the laboratory at I. Ya. Gorbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University used PCR were examined 146 ticks of three species: Ixodes ricinus, I. hexagonus, and Dermacentor reticulatus, removed from humans and animals. A total of 104 ticks collected from humans were tested using PCR. Most ticks were carriers of two pathogens simultaneously: Anaplasma phagocytophilum together with Erlichia sp. (17 specimens), Borrelia burgdorferi together with A. phagocytophilum (5 specimens), B. burgdorferi together with Erlichia sp. (4 specimens), and B. burgdorferi together with Babesia sp. (3 specimens), as well as monoinfections: B. burgdorferi (14 specimens), Erlichia sp. (9 specimens), Babesia sp. (7 specimens), A. phagocytophilum (3 specimens), and B. miyamotoi (1 specimen). Ticks carrying three pathogens simultaneously were also detected: B. burgdorferi together with A. phagocytophilum and Erlichia sp. (4 specimens) and B. burgdorferi together with A. phagocytophilum and Babesia sp. (2 specimens).
Based on the results of studies of 42 ticks collected from the environment and removed from animals in 2024–2025, it was established that 28 ticks, or 66.67%, carry the same pathogens as ticks removed from humans. However, the fact that a significantly smaller number of ticks were examined prevents the attainment of more objective results. Most frequently, they contained the following pathogens: Erlichia sp. together with A. phagocytophilum (9 specimens), Erlichia sp. alone (7 specimens), Babesia sp. (5 specimens), A. phagocytophilum (4 specimens), and B. burgdorferi (3 specimens).
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