Incidence of Borrelia garinii and Borrelia afzelii in Ixodes ricinus ticksin an urban environment, Prague, Czech Republic, between 1995 and 1998

The presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu late and its individual genospec ies was determined using a single-step polymerase chain reaction in a total of 779 Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from an urban park in Prague, Czech Republic. The incidence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu late was 9.2% in 1995 , 3.4% in 1996, 4.5% in 1997 and 2.8% in 1998. The Borrelia garinii to Borr elia afzelii ratio was 1.4:1 and it did not differ significantly throughout the study period. Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto was not detected. Bor relia garinii/Borrelia afzelii coinfection was found in 5.7% of positive ti cks. The results indicate it is possible for the urban population to come i n contact with the causative agent of Lyme disease in an urban park.