| Summary: | Rickettsiae are emerging pathogens causing public health problems in many countries around the world. The reservoir role of small rodents in rickettsiae life-cycles is still unclear and there are a lack of studies focusing on the investigation of rickettsial pathogens in rodents and their ectoparasites across Europe. We aimed to investigate the presence and prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in rodents and their ectoparasites (ticks, mites and fleas) in Lithuania. A total of 238 small rodents representing six species Apodemus flavicollis, Myodes glareolus, Micromys minutus, Microtus oeconomus, Microtus agrestis and Microtus arvalis were trapped during 2013–2014. Altogether, 1,261 ectoparasites (596 Ixodes ricinus ticks, 550 mites of five species and 115 fleas of eight species) were collected from these rodents. The overall prevalence of Rickettsia spp. in rodents was 27.6 %, with a higher prevalence detected in Micromys minutus (45.9%), followed by Apodemus flavicollis (32.8%), and Myodes glareolus (14.3%). Rickettsia DNA was detected in eleven species of ectoparasites. The highest infection rate was found in fleas (43.5%), followed by Ixodes ricinus ticks (MLE=26.5%) and then mites (MLE=9.3%). Sequence analysis of partial gltA and 17kDa genes revealed the presence of Rickettsia helvetica in rodents, while in rodents ectoparasites were detected Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia felis, Rickettsia monacensis, Rickettsia sp. and rickettsial endosymbionts. In rodents’ fleas four Rickettsia spp. were identified, while in Laelapidae mites three Rickettsia spp. occurred in Ixodes ricinus ticks only Rickettsia helvetica was found. This is the first report of the occurrence and molecular characterization of Rickettsia spp. in rodents and their ectoparasites in Baltic countries.
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