and in Bavaria (Germany)-A Georeferenced Field Study with Digital Habitat Characterization.

The hard tick transmits , the causative agent of canine babesiosis. Both the occurrence and local distribution of as well as infection rates of questing ticks with are thus far poorly known in Bavaria, Germany. The objectives of this study were to conduct (1) a georeferenced field study on the occurrence of with digital habitat characterization and (2) a PCR analysis of collected in Bavaria for infection with . were collected by flagging at 60 sites specifically selected according to habitat conditions and screened individually for DNA. A digital habitat characterization for was performed according to results of the field analysis including the parameters land use, proximity to water, "potential natural vegetation", red deer corridors and climate data. Altogether, 339 ticks (214 females and 125 males) were collected between 2010 and 2013 at 12 out of 60 sampling sites. All 12 sites were characterized by high humidity with marshy areas. DNA was detected in 1 out of 301 (0.3%) questing in Bavaria. The digital habitat characterization revealed 15 forest areas in Bavaria with similar ecological characteristics as the sites positive for .