[An experimental infection of Hyalomma asiaticum and Ornithodoros papillipes ticks with a single and combined infection with Coxiella burnetii and Dermacentroxenus sibericus].

Experimental infection of H. asiaticum and O. papillipes with Coxiella burnetii and R. (D.) sibericus in different succession and individual study of these arthropods by means of the fluorescent antibodies method, ordinary microscopy and titration on laboratory animals have revealed an ambiguous outcome of the development of combined rickettsial infection in these ticks. The first agent obtained by the vector either prevents utterly the reproduction of the heterologous agent or inhibits its activity. At the concurrent infection of the ticks with two species of rickettsiae the reproduction of the both agents takes place but against a background of intersuppression of their reproduction. The development of the combined rickettsial infection in ticks is an example of "irregular competition" of species as one of the types of competitive relationships.