{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T05:15:42Z","timestamp":1787030142663,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,8]],"date-time":"2024-08-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1723075200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Scientific and Technological Research Council of T\u00fcrkiye (TUBITAK)","award":["221O119"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["221O119"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Our survey in the Mediterranean region of T\u00fcrkiye revealed high prevalence of Babesia aktasi in goats, while no molecular evidence of the parasite was found in sheep grazing in the same pasture. We hypothesized that the parasite may not be infectious to sheep. To test this hypothesis, the present study was designed to evaluate the susceptibility of Akkaraman sheep breed to B. aktasi infection. Fifteen mL of fresh blood infected with B. aktasi was injected into immune-suppressed lambs (n = 5). The recipient lambs were monitored daily for clinical signs of babesiosis over 30 days, and blood was collected for microscopic and molecular diagnostic evaluation. The lambs did not display clinical and parasitological signs of babesiosis. Two out of five recipient lambs were nested PCR-negative for B. aktasi over 30 days post infection. Out of the remaining three lambs, two were PCR positive on the first day, and one recipient was positive until the fourth day post infection. DNA sequencing confirmed that the PCR positivity in the recipient lambs originated from the inoculum. These findings revealed that immune-suppressed sheep do not appear to be susceptible to infection with B. aktasi that is lethal to immune-suppressed indigenous goats.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci11080359","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,8]],"date-time":"2024-08-08T15:04:24Z","timestamp":1723129464000},"page":"359","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Sheep Displayed No Clinical and Parasitological Signs upon Experimental Infection with Babesia aktasi"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4492-143X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mehmet Can","family":"Ulucesme","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of F\u0131rat, Elaz\u0131\u011f 23200, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sezayi","family":"Ozubek","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of F\u0131rat, Elaz\u0131\u011f 23200, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3188-8757","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Munir","family":"Aktas","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of F\u0131rat, Elaz\u0131\u011f 23200, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kappes, A., Tozooneyi, T., Shakil, G., Railey, A.F., McIntyre, K.M., Mayberry, D.E., Rushton, J., Pendell, D.L., and Marsh, T.L. (2023). Livestock health and disease economics: A scoping review of selected literature. Front. Vet. Sci., 10.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2023.1168649"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-ento-011118-111932","article-title":"Vectors of babesiosis","volume":"64","author":"Gray","year":"2019","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Entomol."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1207","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-022-07424-8","article-title":"The Piroplasmida Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria in farm and companion animals: Species compilation, molecular phylogeny, and evolutionary insights","volume":"121","author":"Schnittger","year":"2022","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mart\u00ednez-Garc\u00eda, G., Santamar\u00eda-Espinosa, R.M., Lira-Amaya, J.J., and Figueroa, J.V. (2021). Challenges in tick-borne pathogen detection: The case for Babesia spp. identification in the tick vector. Pathogens, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens10020092"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2012.07.025","article-title":"Babesia ovis infections: Detailed clinical and laboratory observations in the pre- and post-treatment periods of 97 field cases","volume":"191","author":"Sevinc","year":"2013","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stuen, S. (2020). Haemoparasites\u2014Challenging and wasting infections in small ruminants: A review. Animals, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/ani10112179"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Galon, E.M., Zafar, I., Ji, S., Li, H., Ma, Z., and Xuan, X. (2022). Molecular reports of ruminant Babesia in Southeast Asia. Pathogens, 11.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens11080915"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.1016\/S0304-4017(97)00143-X","article-title":"Some epizootiological and clinical aspects of ovine babesiosis caused by Babesia ovis\u2014A review","volume":"74","author":"Yeruham","year":"1998","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1016\/S0304-4017(00)00433-7","article-title":"The Effect of the ovine host parasitaemia on the development of Babesia ovis (Babes, 1892) in the tick Rhipicephalus bursa (Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877)","volume":"96","author":"Yeruham","year":"2001","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2007.03.032","article-title":"At least two genetically distinct large Babesia species infective to sheep and goats in China","volume":"147","author":"Liu","year":"2007","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"229","DOI":"10.1051\/parasite\/2011183229","article-title":"A study on the determination of risk factors associated with babesiosis and prevalence of Babesia sp., by PCR amplification, in small ruminants from Southern Punjab (Pakistan)","volume":"18","author":"Iqbal","year":"2011","journal-title":"Parasite"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.meegid.2016.03.007","article-title":"Genetic diversity and molecular characterization of Babesia motasi-like in small ruminants and ixodid ticks from China","volume":"41","author":"Niu","year":"2016","journal-title":"Infect. Genet. Evol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2703","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.02266-09","article-title":"Babesia Lengau sp. nov., a novel Babesia species in cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus, Schreber, 1775) populations in South Africa","volume":"48","author":"Bosman","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ozubek, S., Ulucesme, M.C., and Aktas, M. (2023). Discovery of a novel species infecting goats: Morphological and molecular characterization of Babesia aktasi n. sp.. Pathogens, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens12010113"},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ozubek, S., Ulucesme, M.C., Bastos, R.G., Alzan, H.F., Laughery, J.M., Suarez, C.E., and Aktas, M. (2023). Experimental infection of non-immunosuppressed and immunosuppressed goats reveals differential pathogenesis of Babesia aktasi n. sp.. Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol., 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fcimb.2023.1277956"},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"S16","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-001-0563-6","article-title":"Isolation and preliminary characterization of a large Babesia sp. from sheep and goats in the eastern part of Gansu province, China","volume":"88","author":"Bai","year":"2002","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2006.01.035","article-title":"Babesia\u2014A historical overview","volume":"138","author":"Uilenberg","year":"2006","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exppara.2008.09.021","article-title":"Differentiation of two ovine Babesia based on the ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences","volume":"121","author":"Niu","year":"2009","journal-title":"Exp. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ulucesme, M.C., Ozubek, S., Karoglu, A., Turk, Z.I., Olmus, I., Irehan, B., and Aktas, M. (2023). Small ruminant piroplasmosis: High prevalence of Babesia aktasi n. sp. in goats in T\u00fcrkiye. Pathogens, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens12040514"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2817","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-013-3452-x","article-title":"Molecular identification of Theileria and Babesia in sheep and goats in the Black Sea Region in Turkey","volume":"112","author":"Aydin","year":"2013","journal-title":"Parasitol. Res."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1102","DOI":"10.1128\/AEM.72.2.1102-1109.2006","article-title":"Novel genetic variants of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Anaplasma bovis, Anaplasma centrale, and a novel Ehrlichia sp. in wild deer and ticks on two major islands in Japan","volume":"72","author":"Kawahara","year":"2006","journal-title":"App. Environ. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1016\/S0378-1135(02)00179-7","article-title":"Simultaneous detection of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in ruminants and detection of Ehrlichia ruminantium in Amblyomma variegatum ticks by reverse line blot hybridization","volume":"89","author":"Bekker","year":"2002","journal-title":"Vet. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2247","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.00167-08","article-title":"Identification of a novel Babesia sp. from a sable antelope (Hippotragus niger Harris, 1838)","volume":"46","author":"Oosthuizen","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"273","DOI":"10.1016\/S0304-4017(01)00488-5","article-title":"Detection of haemoparasites in cattle by reverse line blot hybridisation with a note on the distribution of ticks in Sicily","volume":"99","author":"Georges","year":"2001","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1531","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.03219-14","article-title":"Identification and expression of Babesia ovis secreted antigen 1 and evaluation of its diagnostic potential in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay","volume":"53","author":"Sevinc","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Clin. Microbiol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2007.07.014","article-title":"Therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate on experimental Babesia ovis infection of lambs","volume":"149","author":"Sevinc","year":"2007","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1016\/j.exppara.2009.05.001","article-title":"A new ovine Babesia species transmitted by Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum","volume":"122","author":"Guan","year":"2009","journal-title":"Exp. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Friedhoff, K.T. (1988). Transmission of Babesia. Babesiosis of Domestic Animals and Man, CRC Press."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"191","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2005.03.021","article-title":"Study on some molecular characterization of Babesia orientalis","volume":"130","author":"Liu","year":"2005","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_30","first-page":"99","article-title":"Tick-borne diseases of sheep and goats caused by Babesia, Theileria or Anaplasma spp.","volume":"39","author":"Friedhoff","year":"1997","journal-title":"Parassitologia"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1016\/S0034-5288(18)32501-3","article-title":"Investigations on Babesia motasi isolated from wales","volume":"31","author":"Lewis","year":"1981","journal-title":"Res. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"265","DOI":"10.1016\/j.parint.2009.12.002","article-title":"Babesia sp. BQ1 (Lintan): Molecular evidence of experimental transmission to sheep by Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis and Haemaphysalis longicornis","volume":"59","author":"Guan","year":"2010","journal-title":"Parasitol. Int."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-024-06316-3","article-title":"Nilgai antelope display no signs of infection upon experimental challenge with a virulent Babesia bovis strain","volume":"17","author":"Johnson","year":"2024","journal-title":"Parasit Vectors"},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ueti, M.W., Olafson, P.U., Freeman, J.M., Johnson, W.C., and Scoles, G.A. (2015). A Virulent Babesia bovis strain failed to infect white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). PLoS ONE, 10.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0131018"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2010.02.006","article-title":"Determination of erythrocyte susceptibility of Chinese sheep (Tan Mutton Breed) and French sheep (Vend\u00e9en Breed) to Babesia sp. BQ1 (Lintan) by in vitro culture","volume":"170","author":"Guan","year":"2010","journal-title":"Vet. Parasitol."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1358","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2018.04.012","article-title":"Mitigated clinical disease in water buffaloes experimentally infected with Babesia bovis","volume":"9","author":"Benitez","year":"2018","journal-title":"Ticks Tick Borne Dis."}],"container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/11\/8\/359\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T15:32:20Z","timestamp":1760110340000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2306-7381\/11\/8\/359"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,8]]},"references-count":36,"journal-issue":{"issue":"8","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,8]]}},"alternative-id":["vetsci11080359"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/vetsci11080359","relation":{},"ISSN":["2306-7381"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2306-7381","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,8,8]]}}}