DETECTION OF BABESIA AND ANAPLASMATACEAE BACTERIA IN SMALL MAMMALS FROM IRKUTSK AND NOVOSIBIRSK REGIONS

Tissue samples from 228 small mammals captured from 2013 to 2015 in four districts of Irkutsk region and in one district of Novosibirsk region were examined for the presence of Anaplasmataceae bacteria and Babesia parasites by nested PCR method with subsequent sequencing of positive samples. In Ekhirit-Bulagatskiy District of Irkutsk region, Babesia microti DNA was found in 10.9 % of small mammals, Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA – in 7.3 %, and Ehrlichia muris DNA – in 1.8 %. Infected mammals were not found in the other three examined districts of Irkutsk region. In Novosibirsk region, B. microti DNA was found in 8.9 % of small rodents, A. phagocytophilum DNA – in 8.9 % of small mammals, and Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis DNA – in 8.9 % of small mammals. The identified infection agents corresponded to microorganism species and genetic variants previously found in Ixodes persulcatus ticks but not in ticks of other species.