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5 June 2020 Investigation of Ixodid ticks as vectors of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in central Italy
Federico Romiti, Adele Magliano, Valeria Antognetti, Giuseppe Manna, Antonella Cersini, Maria Teresa Scicluna, Claudio De Liberato
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Abstract

Babesia caballi and Theileria equi are widely recognized as causative agents of equine pirolasmosis (EP), an acute, sub-acute, and chronic disease of equines, with relevant economic impact on horse trade worldwide. Although several studies on EP prevalence from central Italy have been published, data on ticks responsible for its transmission are still lacking. In this study, we identified a potential competent vector, investigating main features of its ecology together with EP infection rates. A two-year sampling of questing ticks was carried out for the first time in Italy in an area known for high EP prevalence in horse sera, detecting the association between Rhipicephalus bursa and causative agents of EP. Most of the positive pools harbored a single infection (91.1%); mixed infections were also detected (8.9%). The infection rate for T. equi slightly decreased among years; B. caballi showed a lower, but increasing, infection rate. Tick phenology, climate variables, and peaks of EP prevalence indicated late May and second half of June as periods with the highest risk of new infections, especially during warm and dry days.

Federico Romiti, Adele Magliano, Valeria Antognetti, Giuseppe Manna, Antonella Cersini, Maria Teresa Scicluna, and Claudio De Liberato "Investigation of Ixodid ticks as vectors of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in central Italy," Journal of Vector Ecology 45(1), 25-31, (5 June 2020). https://doi.org/10.1111/jvec.12370
Received: 20 August 2019; Accepted: 15 November 2019; Published: 5 June 2020
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KEYWORDS
Babesia caballi
Equine Piroplasmosis
Italy
Rhipicephalus
Theileria equi
ticks
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