Dynamics of Infections in Cattle and : A Preliminary Study.

Tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) pose a significant threat to livestock, including bovine species. This study aimed to investigate TBPs in cattle and ticks across four sampling points, utilizing real-time microfluidic PCR. The results revealed that ticks were found infesting all animals. Among the detected TBPs in cattle, was the most frequently identified, often as a single infection, although mixed infections involving , uncharacterized sp., and sp. were also observed. In ticks, was predominant, along with , sp., and sp. It is noteworthy that although consistently infected all cattle during various sampling times, this pathogen was not detected in all ticks. This suggests a complex dynamic of pathogen acquisition by ticks. A phylogenetic analysis focused on the identification of species using amplified 16S rDNA gene fragments revealed the presence of and strains in bovines. These findings underscore the presence of multiple TBPs in both cattle and ticks, with being the most prevalent. Understanding the dynamics and phylogenetics of TBPs is crucial for developing effective control strategies to mitigate tick-borne diseases in livestock.