Molecular survey of arthropod-borne pathogens in sheep keds (Melophagus ovinus), Central Europe

In the study, we screened a total of 399 adult sheep keds ( Melophagus ovinus ) for the presence of RNA and DNA specific for arboviral, bacterial, and protozoan vector-borne pathogens. All investigated keds were negative for flaviviruses, phleboviruses, bunyaviruses, Borrelia burgdorferi , Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum , “ Candidatus Neoehrlichia mikurensis,” and Babesia spp. All ked pools were positive for Bartonella DNA. The sequencing of the amplified fragments of the glt A and 16S-23S rRNA demonstrated a 100 % homology with Bartonella melophagi previously isolated from a sheep ked and from human blood in the USA. The identification of B. melophagi in sheep keds in Central Europe highlights needs extending a list of hematophagous arthropods beyond ticks and mosquitoes for a search of emerging arthropod-borne pathogens.