Bacterial Pathogens and Symbionts Harboured by Ixodes ricinus Ticks Parasitising Red Squirrels in the United Kingdom

Red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) are native to most of Eurasia; in much the United Kingdom, they have been supplanted by non-native grey squirrel, and considered an endangered species. Very little is known about range tick-borne pathogens which UK red exposed. As part trap-and-release surveys examining prevalence Mycobacterium spp. squirrel populations on two islands, Ixodes ricinus ticks were removed from PCR screened for Borrelia spp., intracellular arthropod-borne bacteria parasitic wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri. At both sites, commonly encountered tick-transmitted bacterium was burgdorferi sensu lato (overall minimum 12.7%), followed Anaplasma phagocytophilum 1.6%). Single infected with Spiroplasma found at single miyamotoi or Ehrlichia sp. one site. Ticks harbouring Wolbachia 15.2%) all positive I. Our study shows that potentially exposed a variety bacterial via feeding ticks. The effects health survival this already vulnerable wildlife species unknown, further studies needed evaluate threat posed other pathogens.