Spatial distribution of Ixodes ricinus tick host-seeking activity, as well as prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) were studied in the TBE endemic area of South Bohemia (Czech Republic). High variability in tick abundance detected in a network of 30 study sites was most closely associated with characteristics of vegetation cover. Of 11,182 tested tick samples, 12% carried DNA of spirochete from B. burgdorferi s.l. complex. B. afzelii and B. garinii prevailed among spirochete species. The presence of B. spielmanii in the region was confirmed. The median number of borrelial genome copies in positive samples reached 6.6 × 10(3) by real-time PCR. The total prevalence of TBEV in pooled samples reached 0.32% (20,057 samples tested), at least one TBEV positive tick was present in 21 out of 30 sampling sites.

Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic; Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre AS CR Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

Institute of Geoinformatics VSB Technical University of Ostrava 17 listopadu 15 708 03 Ostrava Poruba Czech Republic

Institute of Geonics AS CR Drobneho 28 602 00 Brno Czech Republic

Institute of Parasitology Biology Centre AS CR Branisovska 31 370 05 Ceske Budejovice Czech Republic

References provided by Crossref.org

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