Babesia banethi sp. nov. in red foxes

Babesia spp. are widespread tick-borne intraerythrocytic protozoa, infecting a broad range of vertebrate hosts. Red foxes are reservoirs of Babesia vulpes, belonging to the Babesia microti-like group (clade I), and play an important role in the epidemiology of canine and wildlife babesiosis. Besides B. vulpes, another species of this genus was molecularly reported in red foxes from Israel and Iraq and provisionally named "Babesia sp. MML-2014"; however, no morphological description of this small Babesia species was provided, preventing a proper species naming.

Infection with piroplasmid species was detected and described by microscopy of stained blood smears in one red fox from Southern Italy. Molecular characterization of the Babesia sp. and differentiation from B. vulpes was performed through PCR amplification of nuclear (18S rRNA, ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) and mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, cox1) gene markers, followed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. In addition, Ixodes kaiseri ticks collected from the infected fox were screened for piroplasmids by PCR.

Sequence comparison of piroplasmids showed 98-99% identity with the undescribed Babesia sp. MML-2014 and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that this taxon belongs to the Western group (clade III) and is differentiated by B. vulpes. Morphological and morphometric analyses further demonstrated that Babesia sp. nov. is a distinct small piroplasm and is characterized by unique Maltese cross forms. Based on the above, we named Babesia banethi sp. nov. as a new taxon. In addition, Babesia sp. nov. DNA was detected in the intestine of one engorged I. kaiseri specimen.

This study provides genetic and morphological findings of B. banethi sp. nov. A morphological description with measurements of the parasite forms in red fox erythrocytes, differential diagnosis supplemented by genetic characterization, and the deposition of the holotype in suitable collections have been made in compliance with the ICZN guidelines.