and -Emerging Pathogens in the German Sheep Population.

Knowledge on the occurrence of pathogenic tick-borne bacteria and is scarce in sheep from Germany. In 2020, owners from five flocks reported ill thrift lambs and ewes with tick infestation. Out of 67 affected sheep, 55 animals were clinically examined and hematological values, blood chemistry and fecal examinations were performed to investigate the underlying disease causes. Serological tests (cELISA, IFAT) and qPCR were applied to all affected sheep to rule out and as a differential diagnosis. Ticks were collected from selected pastures and tested by qPCR. Most animals ( = 43) suffered from selenium deficiency and endoparasites were detected in each flock. spp. antibodies were determined in 59% of examined sheep. Seventeen animals tested positive for by qPCR from all flocks and was also detected in eight pools of . isolates from sheep and ticks were genotyped using three genes (, msp4 and groEL). DNA was identified in six animals from one flock. Clinical, hematological and biochemical changes were not significantly associated with spp. infection. The analysis revealed known variants of , whereas the msp4 and groEL showed new genotypes. Further investigations are necessary to evaluate the dissemination and health impact of both pathogens in the German sheep population particularly in case of comorbidities.