Evaluation of occurrence of spirochetes Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus ticks in selected areas of the Lublin region by polymerase chain reaction method (PCR)

During the period 2001-2002, 1098 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected at forest sampling sites and the degree of their infection with Borrelia burgdorferi spirochetes was determined by means of polimerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of Borrelia burgdorferi genetic material was noted in 69 cases (6.3%). It was confirmed that the frequency of infection of adult forms of ticks (males and females) was nearly twice as high as nymphs. The highest degree of infection was observed in females--9.5%. The degree of infection among males and nymphs was smaller--5.9% and 4.4% respectively in individual provinces. The percentage of infected females ranged from 7.9% in the Zamo?? Province to 13.6% in the W?odawa Province. In males, the percentage of infected ticks remained within the range from 3.1% in the Lublin Province to 13.3% in the Lubartów Province.