Table 2. Detection of B. henselae DNA in R. sanguineus larvae engorged on infected blood and in nymphs after molting and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) of tick infection.
| Pooled samples | No. of individuals | No. of positive pools/no. of pools tested (%) | Maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Experimental group | ||||
| Engorged larvae | 70 | 8/14 (57.1) | 14.94% | 7.30–27.59% |
| Semi-engorged larvae | 60 | 4/6 (66.7) | 9.06% | 3.15–23.79% |
| Larval feces | 2/3 (66.7) | - | - | |
| Unfed nymphs | 30 | 1/10 (10) | 3.33% | 0.20–15.30% |
| Nymphal feces | 0/3 (0) | - | - | |
| Control group | ||||
| Engorged larvae | 10 | 0/2 (0) | ||
| Semi-engorged larvae | 20 | 0/2 (0) | ||
| Larval feces | 0/2 (0) | |||
| Unfed nymphs | 12 | 0/4 (0) | ||
| Nymphal feces | 0/2 (0) |
95% CI: 95% confidence interval.