Occurrence of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato, <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in <i>Ixodes ricinus</i> ticks collected from selected areas of Opolskie Province in south-west Poland.

Ticks (Acari: Ixodida) are vectors and/or reservoirs of many pathogens, i.e. <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato, <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i>. These pathogens are ethiological agents of such diseases as Lyme borreliosis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis and human babesiosis.The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of the <i>Ixodes ricinu</i>s in the transmission of <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato, <i>Borrelia afzelii, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu stricto, <i>Anaplasma phagocytophilum</i> and <i>Babesia microti</i> in Opolskie Province in Poland.DNA from 222 ticks was isolated by the ammonia method. The pair of primers specific to the flagelline gene was used to detect of <i>B. burgdorferi</i> s. l. To detect of genospecies of this spirochete, three pairs of internal primers were used. In turn, two pairs of primers specific to the 16S rDNA gene and the 18S rRNA were used, respectively, for the detection of <i>A. phagocytophilum</i> and <i>B. microti. Borrelia burgdorferi</i> s. l., <i>A. phagocytophilum</i>, and <i>B. microti</i> were detected in 4.5%, 2.7% and 5.4% of examined ticks, respectively.Of the ten ticks infected with <i>B. burgdorferi</i> s. l., <i>B. afzelii</i> was found in seven, undefinied genospecies in two, and mixed infection with <i>B. afzelii</i> and <i>B. burgdorferi</i> s. s. in one. The study demonstrated the potential risk of exposure of humans and animals to infections of <i>B. burgdorferi</i> s. l., <i>A. phagocytophilum</i> and <i>B. microti</i> in the examined area of Poland.