Author/Editor		Duh, Darja
Title		Molekularne in epidemiološke značilnosti babezij v Sloveniji
Translated title		Molecular and epidemiological characteristics of Babesia in Slovenia
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2004
Volume		str. 99
Language		slo
Abstract		Protozoa of the genus Babesia are some of the most ubiquitous and widespread blood parasites in the world. They are maintained in the nature by ixodid ticks that transmit the parasites to their vertebrate hosts. Babesiae are the etiological agents of human babesiosis, an emerging and dangerous zoonosis in Europe and USA. Hence, they are increasingly gaining on the importance for public health and concern. Babesiae were primarily identified on the basis of their morphological characteristics and host specificity. However, the diversity of the genus Babesia, including host specificity, geographical distribution and pathogenic features, appears to be far more extended and complex as initially thought. Recent advances in molecular methodology have made it possible to ascertain the taxonomic organization and the evolutionary relationships of babesiae. In Slovenia, data for babesiae are scarce with only sporadic, unpublished reports on canine and bovine babesiosis. We have conducted the preliminary study in which we detennined infection of Ixodes ricinus ticks with babesial parasites. We have identified two species of babesiae: B. microti, an emerging pathogen causing human babesiosis and babesial parasite with unknown molecular or biological characteristics. It is of public health importance to determine the reservoir of emerging microorganism, since only rapid and accurate identification of the reservoir will enable appraisal of the full range of disease-control options. The aims of the thesis were therefore to determine the reservoirs for babesiae detected in I. ricinus ticks and for those, which are considered as potential human pathogens. We have identified four babesial parasites known as the agents of human babesiosis in Europe or USA: B. microti, Babesia EU1, B. divergens and B. Canis. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		BABESIA BABESIOSIS DISEASE VECTORS IXODES MAMMALS DEER DOGS RNA, RIBOSOMAL, 18S BASE SEQUENCE GENES, PROTOZOAN POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION SLOVENIA