Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation · 1998 · 33 citations · 23 references
Veterinary MedicineImmunologyInfectious DiseasesInfectious Disease EpidemiologyMedical EntomologyZoonotic Disease EpidemiologyLyme DiseaseRickettsial DiseasesTick BiologyTick-borne DiseasesZoonotic Disease DiagnosisBorrelia Burgdorferi InfectionIxodid Tick InfestationsLyme Disease EpidemiologyTick-borne Disease InvestigationTick-borne Pathogens
Adult ixodid ticks were collected from Westchester County, New York, and Ipswich, Massachusetts, to determine the presence of infection with a human granulocytic ehrlichiosis (HGE) agent by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks collected from New York was also determined by PCR. Of the 229 ticks from New York and 47 ticks from Massachusetts, 9% (22/229) and 25% (12/47) of ticks contained HGE agent, respectively. Fifty-four percent (123/229) of the ticks collected from New York were B. burgdorferi positive; 4% (9/229) of these ticks contained both HGE agent and B. burgdorferi. This finding indicates that animals with Lyme borreliosis may be also exposed to the etiologic agent of HGE. More extensive laboratory diagnosis may be necessary when multiple tick-borne diseases are suspected in animals.
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