Babesia species occurring in Austrian Ixodes ricinus ticks

Area of Science:

• Veterinary and Medical Entomology
• Parasitology
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Babesiosis is a significant tick-transmitted disease affecting both animals and humans.
• The recent identification of the first human babesiosis case in Austria highlights the need for local surveillance.
• Tick-borne pathogens pose a growing public health concern in endemic regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and diversity of Babesia species in ticks throughout Austria.
• To identify specific Babesia species and strains circulating in Austrian tick populations.
• To establish a baseline for tick-borne Babesia surveillance in Austria.

Main Methods:

• Collection of Ixodes ricinus and Haemaphysalis concinna ticks across various Austrian sampling sites.
• Examination of ticks at all life cycle stages (instars) for Babesia spp. presence.
• Molecular detection using 18S rRNA gene PCR and sequencing, supplemented by HSP70 and ITS sequencing for isolate identification.

Main Results:

• An overall mean infection rate of 51.04% for Babesia spp. was detected in the examined Austrian ticks.
• Infection rates varied significantly among sampling sites, ranging from 0% to nearly 100%.
• Identified Babesia species included Babesia divergens, Babesia divergens-like, and Babesia sp. strain DD.

Conclusions:

• This study provides the first comprehensive investigation of Babesia species in Austrian ticks.
• The high prevalence and diverse species identified underscore the potential risk of babesiosis transmission in Austria.
• Findings emphasize the importance of ongoing tick surveillance and public awareness regarding tick-borne diseases.