Semi-nested PCR detection of Bartonella henselae in Ixodes persulcatus ticks from Western Siberia, Russia.

Questing adult Ixodes persulcatus ticks from Western Siberia, Russia were tested for infections with Bartonella spp. using seminested PCR assay with primers specific to the groEL gene. The proportion of ticks infected with Bartonella spp. was 44% in 2002 (n = 50) and 38% in 2003 (n = 50). Nucleotide sequences of a portion of the PCR products corresponded to Bartonella henselae species.