Coinfection ofandin the Tick-A Neglected Public Health Issue in Europe?

Abstract

nymphs and adults removed from humans, and larvae and nymphs from birds, have been analysed for infection withspecies andspecies previously in separately published studies. Here, we use the same data set to explore the coinfection pattern ofandspecies in the ticks. We also provide an overview of the ecology and potential public health importance in Sweden ofinfected both with zoonoticandspecies. Among 1952 nymphs and adult ticks removed from humans, 3.1% were PCR-positive forspp. Of these-positive ticks, 43% were simultaneously-positive. Among 1046 immatures ofremoved from birds, 2.5% were-positive, of which 38% were coinfected withspecies. This study shows that ininfesting humans or birds in Sweden, potentially zoonoticprotozoa sometimes co-occur with human-pathogenicspp. Diagnostic tests forspp. infection are rarely performed in Europe, and the medical significance of this pathogen in Europe could be underestimated.