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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, October 2007, p. 6166-6171, Vol. 73, No. 19
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00590-07
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Tick-Borne Zoonotic Bacteria in Wild and Domestic Small Mammals in Northern Spain

J. F. Barandika,¹ A. Hurtado,¹ C. García-Esteban,^2, H. Gil,² R. Escudero,² M. Barral,¹ I. Jado,² R. A. Juste,¹ P. Anda,² and A. L. García-Pérez^1*

NEIKER, Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Department of Animal Health and Production, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain,¹ Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28220 Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain²

Received 14 March 2007/ Accepted 26 July 2007

The prevalence and diversity of tick-borne zoonotic bacteria (Borrelia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Coxiella burnetii, and spotted fever group rickettsiae) infecting 253 small mammals captured in the Basque Country (Spain) were assessed using PCR and reverse line blot hybridization. Trapping sites were selected around sheep farms (study 1, 2000 to 2002) and recreational parks (study 2, 2003 to 2005). The majority of the studied mammals (162) were wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), but six other different species were also analyzed: yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis), shrews (Crocidura russula and Sorex coronatus), bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus), domestic mice (Mus domesticus), and moles (Talpa europaea). The results showed an infection rate ranging from 10.7% to 68.8%, depending on the small mammal species. One C. russula shrew and one A. sylvaticus mouse gave positive reactions for A. phagocytophilum, and C. burnetii was detected in two domestic mice and one A. sylvaticus mouse in a farm. The DNA of Borrelia spp. was detected in 67 animals (26.5%), most of them presenting positive hybridization with the probe for Borrelia sp. strain R57, the new Borrelia species previously detected in small mammals in our region. Furthermore, a second PCR and reverse line blot hybridization specific for B. burgdorferi sensu lato revealed the presence of Borrelia afzelii in 6.3% of C. glareolus voles and 14.3% of S. coronatus shrews. All small mammals were negative for spotted fever group rickettsiae. These results highlight the relevance of small mammals as reservoirs of some zoonotic bacteria.

Published ahead of print on 10 August 2007.

Present address: Hospital Universitario de Getafe, 28905 Getafe (Madrid), Spain.

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