<div>Following the increase in wild boar population recorded in urban and
peri-urban areas through Europe, the present survey aimed to assess the
occurrence of zoonotic tick-borne bacteria in animals and their ticks
collected from southern Italy, in order to evaluate the potential risk
of infection for animals and humans. From October to December 2019, a
total of 176 ticks collected from 93 wild boars and their spleen samples
were molecularly screened for <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> sensu lato
complex, <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> and spotted fever group (SFG)
<i>Rickettsia</i> species. Overall, all the wild boars were infested by
ticks (mean intensity, 1.9) with <i>Dermacentor marginatus</i> and
<i>Ixodes ricinus</i> being identified in 99.4% and 0.6%,
respectively. Out of 93 wild boars, 17 (18.3%) were infested by ticks
positive to spotted fever group (SFG) <i>Rickettsia</i> species.
<i>Rickettsia slovaca</i> and <i>Rickettsia raoultii</i> were identified
in 16 (9%) and 1 (0.6%) <i>D. marginatus</i>, respectively, whereas a
single <i>I. ricinus</i> (0.6%) was infected by <i>R. slovaca</i>. A
single wild boar (1.1%) scored positive to <i>R. slovaca</i>. All ticks
and wild boars scored negative to <i>C. burnetii</i> and <i>B.
burgdorferi</i> s.l. complex. Data herein obtained suggest wild boars are
involved in the dissemination of <i>D. marginatus</i>, especially in
peri-urban settlements of the study area. An integrated management
approach is advocated for wild boar population control and preventing
the potential risk of tick-borne bacteria in animals and humans.</div>