Occurence of pathogenic genospecies of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from north-western Poland

In order to learn the heterogeneity of the DNA of B. burgdorferi s.l. and the prevalence of co-infections of B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies in the populations of I. ricinus, collected in north-western Poland, the nested PCR method was applied, a fragment of the fla gene being used as a marker. Basing on the prevalence data of B. burgdorferi s.l. DNA in I. ricinus ticks in 8 sampling sites during 1998-2001, it may be stated that a risk of contracting Lyme disease exists in forested areas of north-western Poland, the highest in relation to B. burgdorferi s.s. (76.3% infected ticks), lower by B. garinii (2% infected ticks), and minimal threat being posed by B. afzelii (0.3%). I. ricinus ticks collected in north-western Poland pose a risk of contracting double infection by B. burgdorferi s.l. genospecies, i.e. B. burgdorferi s.s. with B. garinii, and B. burgdorferi s.s. with B. afzelii. The north-western part of Poland represents an endemic area for B. burgdorferi s.l.