Author/Editor		Duh, Darja
Title		Gozdni klop (Ixodes ricinus) kot prenašalec babezij v Sloveniji
Type		monografija
Place		Ljubljana
Publisher		Medicinska fakulteta
Publication year		2002
Volume		str. 65
Language		slo
Abstract		Intraerythrocytic parasites of the genus Babesia are tick-transmitted protozoal microorganisms. Babesial parasites require both a competent vertebrate host and nonvertebrate vector to maintain transmission cycle. All babesiae described to date are transmitted by ixodid ticks. Babesiosis, caused by babesiae, is a well-known disease of veterinary and economic importance of cattle, horses and dogs. However, it is gaining increasing attention as an emerging zoonotic disease in humans. Three distinctly different babesial parasites, Babesia divergens, Babesia microti and WA-1 type cause human babesiosis. European sheep tick (Ixodes ricinus), most widely distributed tick in Europe and in Slovenia, is the probable vector of babesial parasites in Europe. Moreover, Ixodes ricinus transmits variety of pathogenic microorganisms including viruses and bacteria. No research has been done yet to determine the incidence and species of babesial parasites in Slovenia. Therefore we set up this study to examine whether Ixodes ricinus ticks, collected in five different zoogeographical regions of Slovenia, are infected with babesial parasites. The species of detected parasites were assessed by using molecular methods . In the year 1997 and 1998, 858 Ixodes ricinus ticks were collected by flagging vegetation in all five zoogeographical regions of Slovenia. The mitochondrial gene of 16S rRNA of tick origin was successfully amplified in 98.8% of tested ticks. Different babesial parasites were detected in ticks by molecular methods, PCR and subsequent sequence analysis. Babseial gene for 18S rRNA was amplified with PIRO A and PIRO B primers in nine adult ticks (4,3%) and nineteen groups of nymphs, calculated incidence of infection of nymphs was 4.0%. (Abstract truncated at 2000 characters).
Descriptors		BABESIA DISEASE VECTORS BABESIOSIS IXODES RNA, RIBOSOMAL, 16S RNA, RIBOSOMAL, 18S POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION NYMPH BASE SEQUENCE SLOVENIA