Molecular survey of neglected bacterial pathogens reveals an abundant diversity of species and genotypes in ticks collected from animal hosts across Romania.

Background: Ticks are transmitting a wide range of bacterial pathogens that cause substantial morbidity and mortality in domestic animals. The full pathogen burden transmitted by tick vectors is incompletely studied in many geographical areas, and extensive studies are required to fully understand the diversity and distribution of pathogens transmitted by ticks.

Results: We sampled 824 ticks of 11 species collected in 19 counties in Romania.

New records and host associations of the tick Ixodes apronophorus and the first detection of Ehrlichia sp. HF in Romania.

Ixodes (Ixodes) apronophorus is a neglected tick species and its geographical distribution, host associations, and role as a disease vector are not well known. We collected I. apronophorus from several locations in Romania.

Babesia, Theileria, and Hepatozoon species in ticks infesting animal hosts in Romania.

Babesia spp., Theileria spp., and Hepatozoon spp.