Sheep as Host Species for Zoonotic Babesia venatorum, United Kingdom

Abstract

Babesia venatorum is an increasingly prominent zoonotic parasite that predominantly infects wild deer. Our molecular examination of Babesia infecting mammals in the United Kingdom identified 18S sequences in domestic sheep isolates identical to zoonotic B. venatorum. Identification of this parasite in livestock raises concerns for public health and farming policy in Europe.

Keywords

• zoonoses
• babesia
• babesiosis
• tickborne diseases
• sheep
• cattle