Ticks and Tick-Borne Pathogens in Wild Animals and Birds from Two Rehabilitation Facilities in Greece

Ticks are temporary ectoparasites that serve as vectors for a wide range of pathogens affecting both wildlife and humans. In Greece, research on the prevalence of tick-borne pathogens in wildlife is limited. This study investigates the presence of pathogens, including <i>Anaplasma</i> spp., <i>Babesia</i> spp., <i>Bartonella</i> spp., <i>Rickettsia</i> spp., as well as tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) viruses, in ticks collected from 28 wild animals across 10 different animal species. Ticks were manually harvested and identified using molecular methods, with sequencing confirming the presence of <i>Hyalomma aegyptium</i>, <i>H. marginatum</i>, <i>H. anatolicum</i>, <i>Ixodes frontalis</i>, and <i>I. ventalloi</i>. Among the pathogens detected, <i>R. aeschlimannii</i> was the most prevalent, particularly in <i>H. aegyptium</i> ticks from tortoises. Additionally, <i>R. africae</i> was identified in <i>H. aegyptium</i> from tortoises, marking the first report of this pathogen in this tick species in Greece. <i>Hemolivia mauritanica</i>, an apicomplexan parasite commonly found in <i>Testudo</i> tortoises, was also detected. No evidence of <i>Babesia</i> spp., <i>Anaplasma</i> spp., <i>Bartonella</i> spp., or viral nucleic acid was found. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close genetic relationships between the detected <i>Rickettsia</i> species and those previously reported in neighboring regions. These findings underscore the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of tick-borne pathogens in Greece and highlight the need for comprehensive surveillance to prevent future outbreaks.