title: Molecular characterization of Babesia and Theileria species in ticks collected in the outskirt of Monte Romano, Lazio Region, Central Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2012-2013, an investigation was carried out in the Viterbo province, Lazio region, on ticks and tick-borne Apicomplexan protozoa of the Babesia and Theileria genera. This followed the reporting of high density of ticks by soldiers operating in a military shooting range, and the signaling by owners and local veterinary authorities of several cases of babesiosis among cattle.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 422 ticks were collected from 35 heads, whereas 96 ticks were collected by dragging. Ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus Say (n = 373), Rhipicephalus bursa Canestrini & Fanzago (n = 63), Rhipicephalus sanguineus/turanicus (n = 32), Hyalomma marginatum Koch (n = 49) and Dermacentor marginatus Sulzer, 1776 (n = 1). A randomly selected sample of ticks (235 from animals and 36 by dragging) was analyzed using molecular methods to detect species of Babesia and Theileria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 11 ticks collected from animals (4.7%) and two ticks (5.5%) collected by dragging were positive. Sequencing of PCR products of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene revealed Babesia caballi (n = 2), Babesia bigemina (n = 3), Theileria sergenti/buffeli/orientalis (n = 7) and Theileria equi (n = 1). None of the detected species has been associated with human infection.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Toma
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Luca
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Severini
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Prevenzione, Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Viterbo, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Prevenzione, Azienda Sanitaria Locale di Viterbo, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nicolai
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei Sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Laghezza Masci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciervo
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento per l'Innovazione nei Sistemi Biologici, Agroalimentari e Forestali, Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Fausto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Malattie Infettive, Parassitarie ed Immunomediate, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Simone Mario
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cacciò
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000469:parasitology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000469:parasitology; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan