First Molecular Detection ofandin Ticks from Dogs in Luxembourg.

Abstract

Vector-borne diseases, particularly those caused byspecies, pose a significant public health threat in Europe. Despite extensive research on tick-borne pathogens in various European countries, Luxembourg has yet not been studied forspp. in ticks infesting domestic animals. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the presence ofspp. inticks collected from domestic dogs in Luxembourg between April 2023 and April 2024. A total of 61 ticks were examined using molecular techniques, including PCR amplification of the outer membrane protein B (), outer membrane protein A (), and citrate synthase () genes. Results revealed the presence ofandsubsp., with 4.9% of ticks testing positive forspp. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the high genetic identity of the sequences obtained with previously described strains from Europe and Asia. This study highlights the potential risk of emerging tick-borne diseases in Luxembourg and emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance to better understand the spread ofspp. in Europe, particularly as climate change may facilitate the expansion of tick populations and their associated pathogens.