摘要：The sheep ked (
Melophagus ovinus) hematophagous insect may act as a potential vector of vector-borne pathogens. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of
Trypanosoma spp.,
Bartonella spp.,
Anaplasma phagocytophilum and
Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in sheep ked collected from sheep in Poland. In total,
Trypanosoma spp. was detected in 58.91% of
M. ovinus, whereas
Bartonella spp. and
B. burgdorferi s.l. were found in 86.82% and 1.55% of the studied insects, respectively.
A. phagocytophilum was not detected in the studied material. In turn, co-infection by
Trypanosoma spp. and
Bartonella spp. was detected in 50.39%, while co-infection with
Trypanosoma spp. and
Bartonella spp. and
B. burgdorferi s.l. was found in 1.55% of the studied insects. The conducted study showed for the first time the presence of
B. burgdorferi s. l. in
M. ovinus, as well as for the first time in Poland the presence of
Trypanosoma spp. and
Bartonella spp. The obtained results suggest that these insects may be a potential vector for these pathogens, but further-more detailed studies are required.
