[Molecular diagnostics of Babesia and Theileria]

Protozoa Babesia and Theileria are a group of parasites transmitted by ticks and invading mammals' blood cells. Infections by these protozoa cause heavy losses among farm animals. Since human babesiosis was described forty years ago, the number of reported cases has been increasing. Conventional methods of parasitological diagnostics are unreliable in these diseases, especially in stages with low parasitemia. Methods of nucleic acids detection have been developing fast in recent years and are more and more specific and sensitive. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) enables detection of DNA of Babesia and Theileria, even in parasitemia as low as a few organisms per milliliter. Real-time PCR is useful especially in early stage of babesiosis when results of serological tests are negative and the blood smear does not reveal the pathogen or for distinction between intererythrocytic forms and Plasmodium. RLB is a method more sensitive than PCR and enabling detection of coinfections with different organisms. LAMB is a method of DNA amplification in isothermal conditions, offered as faster, easier, but still highly specific alternative to PCR. NASBA is a method where RNA of Babesia and Theileria is an initial template. The choice of a specific method highly depends on cost of laboratory equipment needed.