title: Diversity of Haemaphysalis-associated piroplasms of ruminants in Central-Eastern Europe, Hungary.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increasing numbers of genetic variants are being recognized among piroplasms, but the precise taxonomical status, the tick vector and the geographical range of several species or genotypes are still unknown. Bovine piroplasmosis was reported to re-emerge in north-east Hungary. Because Theileria-infection was newly diagnosed in one cattle herd in the same region of the country, the aim of this study was to molecularly identify the relevant agent, to find its local vector tick species, and to examine the range of Babesia/Theileria spp. of ruminants in Haemaphysalis sp. ticks collected previously in Hungary.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood samples were drawn on two occasions from 90 dairy cattle in northern Hungary, and ticks were collected on their pastures. In addition, questing ticks (315 Haemaphysalis inermis, 259 H. concinna and 22 H. punctata), which originated mainly in the same region of the country from 2007, were included in the study. DNA was extracted from these samples, followed by molecular analysis for piroplasms. In the cattle Theileria orientalis was identified, with 100 % sequence homology to isolates from Japan, China, South-Africa and Australia. Based on GenBank data this genotype has not been previously reported in Europe. The prevalence of infection in the herd remained almost constant in the main tick season, suggesting exposure in previous years. Retrospective analysis of ticks revealed the presence of Babesia crassa in H. inermis, for the first time in Europe and in this tick species. On the other hand, H. concinna carried five different piroplasms, including B. motasi that was also newly detected in Central-Eastern Europe and in this tick species; whereas H. punctata harboured Theileria sp. OT3, hitherto known to occur in the Mediterranean region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study broaden the range of piroplasms that are infective for ruminants in Central-Eastern Europe. Although bovine babesiosis and theileriosis was known to occur in Hungary, molecular evidence is provided here for the first time on the presence of Babesia and/or Theileria spp. of sheep, goats and cervids in Hungary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary. hornok.sandor@aotk.szie.hu.
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hornok
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary. takacs.nora@aotk.szie.hu.
authors.forename: Nóra
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takács
authors.affiliation: Plant Protection Institute, Centre for Agricultural Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary. jkontschan@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jenő
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kontschán
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Authority, Pásztó, Hungary. drgyorgyzs@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zsolt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: György
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Authority, Pásztó, Hungary. alpolgarmester@citromail.hu.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Micsutka
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary. serenaiceton@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iceton
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary. flaisz.barbara@aotk.szie.hu.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Flaisz
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, Budapest, Hungary. farkas.robert@aotk.szie.hu.
authors.forename: Róbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farkas
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. regina@hofmann-lehmann.com.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hofmann-Lehmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012418:Ruminants / Q000469:parasitology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan