Ixodes inopinatus − Occurring also outside the Mediterranean region

We report the presence of Ixodes inopinatus and its sympatric occurrence with Ixodes ricinus in southeastern Germany, western Austria, and Romania. The identification of I. inopinatus was based on morphological and molecular 16S rRNA and 12S rRNA gene features. We also report the finding of Rickettsia monacensis and Rickettsia helvetica in I. inopinatus collected from a fox and a sheep in Romania. Although the vector competence of I. inopinatus for these pathogens remains to be proven, there is evidence of transstadial persistence, an important prerequisite for acting as a vector.Fil: Chitimia-Dobler, Lidia. Institut Fur Mikrobiologie Der Bundeswehr;Fil: Rieß, Ramona. Institut Fur Mikrobiologie Der Bundeswehr;Fil: Kahl, Olaf. Tick-radar Gmbh;Fil: Wölfel, Silke. Institut Fur Mikrobiologie Der Bundeswehr;Fil: Dobler, Gerhard. Institut Fur Mikrobiologie Der Bundeswehr; . Universidad de Hohenheim; AlemaniaFil: Nava, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; ArgentinaFil: Estrada Peña, Agustin. Department of Animal Health; Españ