Samples of blood, spleen and legs from 112 culled roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) were collected
from nine sites widespread in the United Kingdom. The prevalence of infection with Ehrlichia
phagocytophila was determined by serology and polymerase chain reaction. Means of 58% of
102 plasma or serum samples were seroreactive by IFA, 38% of 84 blood samples and 29% of
82 spleen samples were positive by PCR. Ticks on legs of 71 roe deer were Ixodes ricinus
larvae, nymphs and adults and 83% of legs were infested. Numbers of ticks corresponded
positively to the percentage of samples positive for E. phagocytophila by serology and PCR for
different sampling sites. Ixodes ricinus nymphs collected from the vegetation at one site with
infected deer were analysed for infection with E. phagocytophila by examination of Feulgen
stained salivary glands. Of 135 nymphs 5% were infected. These results confirm that roe deer
are commonly parasitized by both E. phagocytophila and its vector tick in such a way that it is
likely to be an important natural mammalian reservoir of E. phagocytophila.
Infection prevalence and ecotypes of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in moose Alces alces, red deer Cervus elaphus, roe deer Capreolus capreolus and Ixodes ricinus ticks from Norway