Prevalence and diversity of Babesia spp. in wild cervids

Abstract

Babesiosis is an emerging tick-transmitted zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. A various wildlife species are considered to be reservoir hosts for zoonotic Babesia species. In Lithuania and Norway, the occurrence and diversity of Babesia species in wild animals is largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and diversity of Babesia spp. in different species of cervids such as roe deer, red deer, fallow deer, sika deer and moose in Lithuania and in Norway. Spleen samples from 236 animals were collected during the hunting seasons in Lithuania (n=76) and in Norway (n=160). To examine the presence of Babesia-DNA, nested PCR targeting different part of the 18S rRNA gene of Babesia spp. were used. Babesia parasites with different prevalence were detected in moose (4%, 4/99), red deer (28.6 %, 6/21) and roe deer (57.5 %, 23/40) sampled in Norway and in fallow deer (2/3), roe deer (70.8 %, 34/48), red deer (3/4) and sika deer (5 %, 1/20) in Lithuania. Four Babesia species (Babesia capreoli, B.odocoilei-like, B.venatorum, B.divergens) were identified. This study is the first molecular investigation of Babesia parasites in wild cervids in Lithuania and Norway, and is the first report of B. capreoli and B. odocoilei-like species in moose.