Anaplasmataceae and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the sand lizard Lacerta agilis and co-infection of these bacteria in hosted Ixodes ricinus ticks.

Background: Anaplasmataceae and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. are important tick-borne bacteria maintained in nature by transmission between ticks and vertebrate hosts.

Blood parasites in two co-existing species of lizards (Zootoca vivipara and Lacerta agilis).

We investigated the occurrence of blood parasites of two lizard species: the common or viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara) and the sand lizard (Lacerta agilis) in western Poland. Selected traits of lizard body morphology were studied with respect to the presence and intensity of haematozoan infection in blood samples collected from 218 adult lizards; 88 of the common lizard and 130 of the sand lizard. Haemogregarinid blood parasites were found to be the common parasite of both lizard species in studied locality with prevalence 39.

Densities and morphology of two co-existing lizard species (Lacerta agilis and Zootoca vivipara) in extensively used farmland in Poland.

The study was carried out in extensive farmland area near the town of Odolanów, Poland. During two breeding seasons (April-May, 2006-2007) lizards were counted on transect routes and captured by hand or by noosing. In total, 123 specimens of L.