Molecular detection of Bartonella schoenbuchensis from ectoparasites of deer in Massachusetts

Deer keds (Lipoptena cervi) are thought to have been introduced into New England from Europe during the 1800 s. We sought to determine whether L. cervi from Massachusetts deer contained evidence of infection by Bartonella schoenbuchensis, which appears to be maintained by L. cervi in Europe. Five of 6 keds were found to contain B. schoenbuchensis DNA, and 2 deer ticks cofeeding on deer with such keds did as well. The detection of Bartonella DNA in deer ticks probably represents contamination by infected deer blood.