RT Journal Article
T1 Prevalence and distribution of Babesia and Theileria species in roe deer from Spain
A1 Remesar Alonso, Susana
A1 Díaz Fernández, Pablo
A1 Markina, Florencio
A1 Díaz Cao, José Manuel
A1 López-Lorenzo, Gonzalo
A1 Fernández Rodríguez, Gonzalo
A1 López Sández, Ceferino Manuel
A1 Panadero Fontán, Rosario
A1 Díez Baños, Pablo
A1 Morrondo Pelayo, María Patrocinio
K1 Babesia
K1 Theileria
K1 PCR
K1 Roe deer
K1 Spain
AB Babesiosis and Theileriosis are important worldwide-distributed tick-borne diseases for human and animals. Their presence in a particular area depends on the presence of suitable tick-vector and host species as well as competent reservoirs such as roe deer, one of the most abundant wild cervids in Spain.Spleen samples from 174 roe deer hunted in Spain were analysed to determine the prevalence of Babesia and Theileria species. DNA of both piroplasms was firstly detected using a commercial qPCR. Then, positive samples were molecularly characterized at the 18S rRNA and ITS1 genes of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. The possible influence of some factors such as ecological area, age and sex was also assessed.Overall, 89.7% of roe deer were positive to any of the two piroplasms. Theileria spp. was more prevalent (60.9%) than Babesia spp. (19.0%); species identification could not be achieved in 17.3% of positive samples. Babesia prevalence was significantly higher in young animals and in roe deer from Oceanic regions, in contrast to Theileria spp. Five species were identified: Theileria sp. OT3 (60.3%), Babesia capreoli (15.5%), Babesia venatorum (2.9%), Theileria sp. 3185/02 (0.6%) and Babesia bigemina (0.6%). The coinfection B. capreoli/T. sp. OT3 was the most common (4.6%) followed by B. venatorum/T. sp. OT3 (0.6%) and B. bigemina/T. sp. OT3 (0.6%).Our results reveal that Theileria spp. and Babesia spp. are prevalent piroplasms in roe deer from Spain. These cervids can act as reservoirs for several Babesia and Theileria species, including the zoonotic B. venatorum. This study represents the first description of B. venatorum and B. bigemina in roe deer from Spain.
PB Elsevier
SN 2213-2244
YR 2019
FD 2019
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10347/21218
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10347/21218
LA eng
NO Remesar, S., Díaz, P., Prieto, A., Markina, F., Díaz Cao, J., & López-Lorenzo, G. et al. (2019). Prevalence and distribution of Babesia and Theileria species in roe deer from Spain. International Journal For Parasitology: Parasites And Wildlife, 9, 195-201. doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.05.005
NO This research was supported by a project grant (2016-CL018)awarded by the Spanish Roe Deer Association [Asociación del CorzoEspañol (ACE)], the Programme for Consolidating and StructuringCompetitive Research Groups (GRC2015/003; Xunta de Galicia, Spain)and the Research Project “RUMIGAL: Rede de estudo multidisciplinardos ruminantes en Galicia” (R2014/005, Xunta de Galicia, Spain)
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026