<i>Babesia</i> Species Detected in Deer from Southwest England
<i>Babesia</i> species have been detected in deer across Europe, and deer grazing in the same location as livestock may increase the risk of transmission of species such as the parasite <i>B. divergens.</i> Bovine babesiosis and the cost of treatment increase the economic bur...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Hope Leverett Ternenge T. Apaa Harriet McFadzean Nicholas Johnson |
| author_facet | Hope Leverett Ternenge T. Apaa Harriet McFadzean Nicholas Johnson |
| author_sort | Hope Leverett |
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| description | <i>Babesia</i> species have been detected in deer across Europe, and deer grazing in the same location as livestock may increase the risk of transmission of species such as the parasite <i>B. divergens.</i> Bovine babesiosis and the cost of treatment increase the economic burden on farmers. To determine the presence of <i>Babesia</i> species in wild deer populations in the counties of Devon and Somerset, Southwest England, blood samples were collected from red (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>) and fallow (<i>Dama dama</i>) deer as part of routine deer management during late 2022 and early 2023. Extracted DNA samples were tested for the presence of piroplasm DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Amplicons were sequenced to identify the species present in samples based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the 18S rRNA gene. Two species of <i>Babesia</i> were detected: a <i>B. divergens/capreoli</i> species detected in both red and fallow deer and a <i>Babesia</i> species related to <i>B. odocoilei</i> in a single fallow deer, a species that has been detected in deer across Great Britain. The presence of <i>B. divergens/capreoli</i> in deer blood from these areas provides evidence that wild deer could serve as a reservoir for this parasite within Southern England. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7bdcffa2ec6d45a69dfb4e9ec16afb03 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj-art-7bdcffa2ec6d45a69dfb4e9ec16afb032025-08-20T02:18:04ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172025-03-0114430310.3390/pathogens14040303<i>Babesia</i> Species Detected in Deer from Southwest EnglandHope Leverett0Ternenge T. Apaa1Harriet McFadzean2Nicholas Johnson3One Virology—Wolfson Centre for Global Viral Research, School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Loughborough LE12 5RD, UKVector Borne Diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UKAnimal and Plant Health Agency, Starcross Veterinary Investigation Centre, Staplake Mount, Starcross EX6 8PE, UKVector Borne Diseases, Virology Department, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, Addlestone KT15 3NB, UK<i>Babesia</i> species have been detected in deer across Europe, and deer grazing in the same location as livestock may increase the risk of transmission of species such as the parasite <i>B. divergens.</i> Bovine babesiosis and the cost of treatment increase the economic burden on farmers. To determine the presence of <i>Babesia</i> species in wild deer populations in the counties of Devon and Somerset, Southwest England, blood samples were collected from red (<i>Cervus elaphus</i>) and fallow (<i>Dama dama</i>) deer as part of routine deer management during late 2022 and early 2023. Extracted DNA samples were tested for the presence of piroplasm DNA by polymerase chain reaction. Amplicons were sequenced to identify the species present in samples based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms within the 18S rRNA gene. Two species of <i>Babesia</i> were detected: a <i>B. divergens/capreoli</i> species detected in both red and fallow deer and a <i>Babesia</i> species related to <i>B. odocoilei</i> in a single fallow deer, a species that has been detected in deer across Great Britain. The presence of <i>B. divergens/capreoli</i> in deer blood from these areas provides evidence that wild deer could serve as a reservoir for this parasite within Southern England.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/4/303red deerfallow deer<i>Babesia</i> |
| spellingShingle | Hope Leverett Ternenge T. Apaa Harriet McFadzean Nicholas Johnson <i>Babesia</i> Species Detected in Deer from Southwest England Pathogens red deer fallow deer <i>Babesia</i> |
| title | <i>Babesia</i> Species Detected in Deer from Southwest England |
| title_full | <i>Babesia</i> Species Detected in Deer from Southwest England |
| title_fullStr | <i>Babesia</i> Species Detected in Deer from Southwest England |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Babesia</i> Species Detected in Deer from Southwest England |
| title_short | <i>Babesia</i> Species Detected in Deer from Southwest England |
| title_sort | i babesia i species detected in deer from southwest england |
| topic | red deer fallow deer <i>Babesia</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/14/4/303 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hopeleverett ibabesiaispeciesdetectedindeerfromsouthwestengland AT ternengetapaa ibabesiaispeciesdetectedindeerfromsouthwestengland AT harrietmcfadzean ibabesiaispeciesdetectedindeerfromsouthwestengland AT nicholasjohnson ibabesiaispeciesdetectedindeerfromsouthwestengland |