Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2001, p. 3395-3397, Vol. 39, No. 9
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.9.3395-3397.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Received 1 May 2001/Returned for modification 31 May 2001/Accepted 23 June 2001
Questing Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) adult and nymphal ticks collected in various parts of Slovenia were tested for the presence of babesial parasites with a PCR assay based on the nuclear small subunit rRNA gene (nss-ribosomal DNA [rDNA]). Thirteen of 135 ticks were found to contain babesial DNA. Sequence determination and analysis of amplified portions of nss-rDNA revealed their identity with Babesia microti and a high degree of homology with Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens. The results of this study represent the first genetic evidence of B. microti and B. divergens-like parasites in I. ricinus ticks in Europe.
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