engleski

Molecular survey of Babesia microti in wild rodents in central Croatia

Babesia divergens and B.divergens-like organisms are the main causative agents of human babesiosis in Europe. Recently, the first case of human infection with B. microti was confirmed in Germany, implicating the presence of zoonotic isolates. In order to estimate the presence of zoonotic B. microti in Croatia we analyzed 120 small wild mammals which serve as its reservoir by PCR. Yellownecked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) and bank voles (Myodes glareolus) were both found to be infected with prevalence of 16.2%. Sequence analysis of the portion of 18S rDNA gene demonstrated that six PCR-positive samples, detected in both rodent species, were identical to that of the human Jena/Germany strain (EF413181). The other two isolates were identical to the nonzoonotic Munich strain (AB071177). The results of this study indicate the presence of zoonotic B. microti in Apodemus flavicollis and M. glareolus in Croatia and a potential risk for human health.

Babesia; PCR; rodent-borne; vector- borne; zoonotic

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