High Prevalence of Granulocytic Ehrlichiae and <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> Sensu Lato in <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> Ticks from Bulgaria

Abstract

Bulgarian Ixodes ricinus ticks were examined for Ehrlichia and Borrelia coinfection: 34 and 32% of adult ticks and at least 2 and 10% of nymphs were positive for these infections, respectively. Coinfections and dual or triple Borrelia infections were frequent, although Ehrlichia phagocytophila heterogeneity was minimal. Multiple tick-borne bacteria coexist in I. ricinus ticks in southeastern Europe.