BRIEF COMMUNICATION
Prevalence of infection with Francisella tularensis, Borrelia burgdorferi sensulato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in rodents from an endemic focus of tularemia in Bulgaria.
 
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National Reference Laboratory for Lyme borreliosis, Department of Microbiology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia - 1504, Bulgaria
 
 
Corresponding author
Iva Christova
iva_christova@yahoo.com
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2005;12(1):149-152
 
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ABSTRACT
The prevalence of Francisella tularensis, Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasmaphagocytophilum in rodents is a determinant for their role in maintaining pathogens in the environment.A total of 169 rodents, trapped in an endemic focus of tularemia, were examined by PCR to asses the frequencyof infection with the etiological agents of tularemia, Lyme borreliosis and human granulocytic anaplasmosis.The overall prevalence of F. tularensis was 22 %. In 6 % of the black rats, F. tularensis was identifiedin coinfection with B. burgdorferi and in 3 % in coinfection with A. phagocytophilum. B. burgdorferiand A. phagocytophilum were detected in 26 % and 8 % of the trapped rodents. Results obtained show theexistence of an active natural focus of tularemia. The high level of coinfections indicated that theendemic focus is mixed and generates risk for multiple infections in humans. Further investigations areneeded to reveal interactions between the pathogens in the infected animals.
eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
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