Molecular characterization of Babesia species in wild animals and their ticks in Turkey

ORKUN Ö., Karaer Z.

INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION, cilt.55, ss.8-13, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 55
  • Basım Tarihi: 2017
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.meegid.2017.08.026
  • Dergi Adı: INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.8-13
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Babesia, Ticks, Wild animals, Novel genotype, Turkey, CONGO HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER, BLACK-SEA REGION, CANINE BABESIOSIS, THEILERIA-ANNAE, SHEEP, IDENTIFICATION, OVIS, TRANSMISSION, PIROPLASMS, RUMINANTS
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

To date, no study has investigated Babesia ecology in wild boars, hares or foxes in Turkey. This study aimed to determine and characterize Babesia spp. in wild animals and their ticks. We identified a novel Babesia genotype and four known Babesia species in wild animals and their ticks. We detected Babesia spp. molecularly in hares for the first time. In addition, we identified B. vulpes in foxes for the first time in Turkey. The presence of B. rossi, B. crassa and B. occultans was also revealed in ticks collected from wild boars and hares. This is only the second report of B. rossi in ticks outside of Africa and suggests that B. rossi is circulating in ticks in Turkey. Therefore B. rossi poses a significant threat to domestic dogs. Here we demonstrate the role of wild animals in the life cycle of Babesia species in Turkey and contribute to Babesia ecological and taxonomic information.