The presence of malignant ovine babesiosis in Bosnia and Herzegovina indicates a possible emerging risk for Balkan region

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases microbiology and infectious diseases, 2022-11, Vol.90-91, p.101893-101893, Article 101893
• Main Authors: Stevanović, Oliver, Radalj, Andrea, Subić, Ivona, Jovanović, Nemanja M., Sladojević, Željko, Amović, Mladen, Zuko, Almedina, Nedić, Drago, Ilić, Tamara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Babesia ovis; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Malignant ovine babesiosis; PCR
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101893

Malignant ovine babesiosis or ovine babesiosis caused by Babesia ovis is an important hemoprotozoan tick-borne disease of sheep. After 70 years, a study was conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the geographical areas of Podrinje and Eastern Herzegovina, aiming to molecularly identify and determine the presence of B. ovis infection in the sheep population. From 2019–2021, a clinical and molecular study was conducted in 53 flocks, and 192 sheep were examined, divided into two groups: clinically suspected and asymptomatic sheep. The presence of B. ovis was confirmed by PCR in blood samples of 75 % and 11.21 % of clinically affected and asymptomatic sheep, respectively. The majority of clinical cases of malignant ovine babesiosis were confirmed in the Rudo epidemiological unit (78.78 %) within the Podrinje region indicating typical seasonal pattern of disease occurrence and endemic focus. Rhipicephalus bursa was only tick species identified in Podrinje and Eastern Herzegovina. Acute form of disease was observed with dominant clinical signs of depression, fever, loss of appetite and respiratory distress. Fatal outcome was recorded in 12.28 % of cases. This study describes the molecular detection of B. ovis in sheep in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the first time. To the authors knowledge, this survey represents a report of the highest number of clinical cases of malignant ovine babesiosis in Europe. Since the disease has been recorded in the south-eastern border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, there is a high risk of disease transmission to a wider area of the Balkan region. [Display omitted] •Malignant ovine babesiosis is an typical sheep disease for Middle East.•Only historical significance for Bosnia and Herzegovina and western region of Balkans.•PCR confirmed clinical cases of Babesia ovis infection in sheep from Bosnia and Herzegovina with documented areal dominance of Rhipicephalus bursa.•Epidemiological indication for endemic focus in some regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina?•High number of reported clinical cases of malignant ovine babesiosis in the border region of country is risk for disease spreading to other Balkan countries.