[The evaluation of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochaetes distribution in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected in selected regions of Wielkopolska+ regions by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method].

Ixodes ricinus ticks (total n = 298: 24 nymphs, 156 females and 112 males) collected from vegetation at 7 different sites were examined individually for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochaetes. Detection of spirochaetes was carried out by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers complementary to chromosomal sequence. Borreliae were evident in 73 (24.5%) examined ticks. Females were infected in 28.8%, males in 22.0% and nymphs in 8.3%. Infection rate in tick population in particular investigated sites differed, however. The highest one-46.4%-was calculated for ticks collected in Konin province and the lowest one--11.5%--for ticks collected at site in Gorzów province.