[Ticks as a reservoir of Borrelia burgdorferi and Coxiella burnetii on Polish terrain].

The aim of performed studies was to recognize the distribution of Coxiella burnetii and Borrelia burgdorferi infected ticks in Poland. The 1580 ticks infesting animals and humans were collected in different parts of the country. They belonged to Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Argas reflexus species. Presence of B burgdorferi and C. burnetii DNA in ticks has been sought with polymerase chain reaction test (PCR). B. burgdorferi bacteria have been detected in 12 I. ricinus ticks (0.77%). Infected ticks were collected in Koszalin, Krosno and Suwałki voivodships. C. burnetii bacteria were found in 3 ticks from Kielce and Tarnobrzeg voivodships (0.19%). Obtained results indicate existence of natural reservoirs and vectors of C burnetii and B. burgdorferi in Poland. Since Q fever have not been recognized in central Poland until recently in can suggest diffusion of the C. burnetii reservoir to new regions. Presence of infected ticks in distant regions reflects wide distribution of these microorganisms all over the country.