Zoonotic Pathogens infrom an Urban Environment in Northern Slovakia.

Abstract

is the most common and, epidemiologically speaking, the most important tick species in Slovakia, transmitting a wide range of zoonotic pathogens. The goal of the present study was to monitor selected tick-borne infectious agents in an urban environment in northern Slovakia where the conditions for their occurrence and survival are typically unfavourable. Ticks were collected by the flagging method during the period from March to November 2024 in the city of Žilina in five urban locations characterized by high human activity and suitable conditions for tick-host interactions. A total of 264 ticks ofwere collected (67 females, 85 males, and 112 nymphs). A molecular analysis confirmed the presence ofspp. in 34.5% of samples, while the most frequently detected species was. The other detected species included zoonotic piroplasmsand(1.5%), as well as the bacteriaspp. (2.65%) andspp. (0.4%). In four ticks (1.5%), the presence of coinfection caused by multiple pathogens was detected. These results confirm that urban ecosystems located in the northern regions of Slovakia also provide significant reservoirs of zoonotic pathogens and impose a potential risk for public health.