The Ixodes ricinus tick as a vector of Borrelia burgdorferi in Slovenia

In many parts of Slovenia, the vegetation, climate and animals form an ideal natural environment for the persistence of different tick species. In this study, Ixodes ricinus ticks, the prevalent tick species in our country, are identified as the vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi in Slovenia. Ticks were collected by flagging between May and October 1990. All the ticks collected from different parts of Slovenia were I. ricinus and each one was examined individually. The ticks were tested to determine the presence of B. burgdorferi by indirect immunofluorescent assay. Among the 496 ticks examined for borreliae there were 85 adults and 411 nymphs. Twenty (23.5%) adults and 18 (4.4%) nymphs were found positive for Borreliae. This study discusses the importance of I. ricinus ticks in the role of Lyme borreliosis in Slovenia.