Serological and molecular insights into tick-borne pathogens in wild donkeys from an unexplored Mediterranean nature reserve.

ABSTRACT: The Island of Asinara (Sardinia, Italy) is a unique protected ecosystem in the Mediterranean basin. Its climate provides a favorable environment for a wide variety of flora and fauna, including ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) of medical and veterinary importance. In this context, wild donkeys (Equus asinus), i.e. the Sardinian grey donkey and the characteristic white Asinara donkey, serve as hosts for several tick species. This study aimed to increase the knowledge of the TBPs circulating on the Island of Asinara by assessing the seroprevalence and risk factors for Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in donkeys and the molecular prevalence of the aetiological agents of piroplasmosis, anaplasmosis, and rickettsiosis in ticks collected from donkeys. In th

SUBMITTER: Villa L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12152590 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature