TY - JOUR
T1 - Molecular characterization of Babesia and Theileria species in ticks collected in the outskirt of Monte Romano, Lazio Region, Central Italy
AU - Toma, Luciano
AU - Di Luca, Marco
AU - Mancini, Fabiola
AU - Severini, Francesco
AU - Mariano, Carmela
AU - Nicolai, Giancarlo
AU - Masci, Valentina Laghezza
AU - Ciervo, Alessandra
AU - Fausto, Anna Maria
AU - Cacciò, Simone Mario
PY - 2017/1/1
Y1 - 2017/1/1
N2 - Background. In 2012-2013, an investigation was carried out in the Viterbo province, Lazio region, on ticks and tick-borne Apicomplexan protozoa of the Babesia and Theileria genera. This followed the reporting of high density of ticks by soldiers operating in a military shooting range, and the signaling by owners and local veterinary authorities of several cases of babesiosis among cattle. Methods. A total of 422 ticks were collected from 35 heads, whereas 96 ticks were collected by dragging. Ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus Say (n = 373), Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini & Fanzago (n = 63), Rhipicephalus sanguineus/turanicus (n = 32), Hyalomma marginatum Koch (n = 49) and Dermacentor marginatus Sulzer, 1776 (n = 1). A randomly selected sample of ticks (235 from animals and 36 by dragging) was analyzed using molecular methods to detect species of Babesia and Theileria. Results. In total, 11 ticks collected from animals (4.7%) and two ticks (5.5%) collected by dragging were positive. Sequencing of PCR products of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene revealed Babesia caballi (n = 2), Babesia bigemina (n = 3), Theileria sergenti/ buffeli/orientalis (n = 7) and Theileria equi (n = 1). None of the detected species has been associated with human infection.
AB - Background. In 2012-2013, an investigation was carried out in the Viterbo province, Lazio region, on ticks and tick-borne Apicomplexan protozoa of the Babesia and Theileria genera. This followed the reporting of high density of ticks by soldiers operating in a military shooting range, and the signaling by owners and local veterinary authorities of several cases of babesiosis among cattle. Methods. A total of 422 ticks were collected from 35 heads, whereas 96 ticks were collected by dragging. Ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus Say (n = 373), Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini & Fanzago (n = 63), Rhipicephalus sanguineus/turanicus (n = 32), Hyalomma marginatum Koch (n = 49) and Dermacentor marginatus Sulzer, 1776 (n = 1). A randomly selected sample of ticks (235 from animals and 36 by dragging) was analyzed using molecular methods to detect species of Babesia and Theileria. Results. In total, 11 ticks collected from animals (4.7%) and two ticks (5.5%) collected by dragging were positive. Sequencing of PCR products of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene revealed Babesia caballi (n = 2), Babesia bigemina (n = 3), Theileria sergenti/ buffeli/orientalis (n = 7) and Theileria equi (n = 1). None of the detected species has been associated with human infection.
KW - Babesia
KW - DNA sequencing
KW - Italy
KW - Theileria
KW - Ticks
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U2 - 10.4415/ANN_17_01_07
DO - 10.4415/ANN_17_01_07
M3 - Article
C2 - 28361802
AN - SCOPUS:85016721278
VL - 53
SP - 30
EP - 34
JO - Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanita
JF - Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanita
SN - 0021-2571
IS - 1
ER -