First Molecular Detection of and in Ticks from Dogs in Luxembourg.

Vector-borne diseases, particularly those caused by species, pose a significant public health threat in Europe. Despite extensive research on tick-borne pathogens in various European countries, Luxembourg has yet not been studied for spp. in ticks infesting domestic animals. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the presence of spp. in ticks collected from domestic dogs in Luxembourg between April 2023 and April 2024. A total of 61 ticks were examined using molecular techniques, including PCR amplification of the outer membrane protein B (), outer membrane protein A (), and citrate synthase () genes. Results revealed the presence of and subsp. , with 4.9% of ticks testing positive for spp. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the high genetic identity of the sequences obtained with previously described strains from Europe and Asia. This study highlights the potential risk of emerging tick-borne diseases in Luxembourg and emphasizes the need for ongoing surveillance to better understand the spread of spp. in Europe, particularly as climate change may facilitate the expansion of tick populations and their associated pathogens.