# Zoonotic Pathogens in Ixodes ricinus from an Urban Environment in Northern Slovakia

## TL;DR

This study found zoonotic pathogens in ticks from an urban area in northern Slovakia, highlighting a public health risk.

## Contribution

The study identifies tick-borne pathogens in an urban setting in northern Slovakia, where such occurrences are typically considered unlikely.

## Key findings

- Borrelia spp., primarily Borrelia afzelii, was detected in 34.5% of ticks.
- Babesia microti and Babesia venatorum were found in 1.5% of ticks.
- Coinfections with multiple pathogens were detected in 1.5% of ticks.

## Abstract

Ixodes ricinus 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 of Ixodes ricinus were collected (67 females, 85 males, and 112 nymphs). A molecular analysis confirmed the presence of Borrelia spp. in 34.5% of samples, while the most frequently detected species was Borrelia afzelii. The other detected species included zoonotic piroplasms Babesia microti and Babesia venatorum (1.5%), as well as the bacteria Anaplasma spp. (2.65%) and Rickettsia spp. (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.