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Tick‐borne pathogens in Winona County: Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Ixodes scapularis

Tick‐borne pathogens can cause a number of harmful human diseases, such as Lyme disease from Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasmosis from Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the deer tick, is a well‐established tick species within Winona County that is known to be a competent vector for these pathogens. The purpose of this study was to collect deer ticks in Winona County and assess the prevalence of B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum. Deer ticks were collected from five sites (100 ticks per site), and DNA was extracted and analyzed for the presence of either pathogen using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR). On average, 40% of the ticks were infected with B. burgdorferi, while 16% of the ticks were infected with A. phagocytophilum. These results are consistent with data collected from other regions within southeast Minnesota. Interestingly, 7% of the ticks were co‐infected with both pathogens. This value was higher than that observed in previous studies (2% co‐infection). Surveillance studies such as this are important to monitor tick populations and their pathogens and to insure that the public is aware of the prevalence of these tick‐borne pathogens. Funding for this research was provided by the National Biological Honors Society, Beta Beta Beta; Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse, WI; and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, Winona, MN.