Transplacental transmission of tick-borne Babesia microti in its natural host Peromyscus leucopus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Babesia microti is an emerging tick-borne pathogen and the causative agent of human babesiosis. Mathematical modeling of the reproductive rate of B. microti indicates that it cannot persist in nature by horizontal tick-host transmission alone. We hypothesized that transplacental transmission in the reservoir population contributes to B. microti persistence and emergence in North American rodent populations.

Methods

Peromyscus leucopus were collected from Connecticut and Block Island, Rhode Island and analyzed using a highly specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for infection with B. microti.

Results

In April, 100% (n = 103) of mice were infected with B. microti. Females exhibited significantly higher parasitemia than their offspring (P < 0.0001) and transp

SUBMITTER: Tufts DM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5935994 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature