Diversity of Babesia infecting European sheep ticks (Ixodes ricinus)

Questing Ixodes ricinus (Acari: Ixodidae) adult and nymphal ticks collected in various parts of Slovenia were tested for the presence of babesial para sites with a PCR assay based on the nuclear small subunit rRNA gene (nss-ri bosomal DNA [rDNA]). Thirteen of 135 ticks were found to contain babesial D NA. Sequence determination and analysis of amplified portions of nss-rDNA r evealed their identity with Babesia microti and a high degree of homology w ith Babesia odocoilei and Babesia divergens. The results of this study repr esent the first genetic evidence of B. microti and B. divergens-like parasi tes in I. ricinus ticks in Europe.