Review of Molecular Tools Used in Diagnosis of <i>Babesia</i> spp. and <i>Anaplasma</i> spp. Infection in Wild Boar and Their Ticks—20 Years Retrospective Review

Review of Molecular Tools Used in Diagnosis of <i>Babesia</i> spp. and <i>Anaplasma</i> spp. Infection in Wild Boar and Their Ticks—20 Years Retrospective Review

Wild boars (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) and their associated ticks represent important reservoirs and vectors for a variety of zoonotic pathogens, particularly <i>Anaplasma</i> spp. and <i>Babesia</i> spp. The aim of this review is to highlight the diagnostic methods emplo...

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Main Authors: Ioan Cristian Dreghiciu, Diana Hoffman, Mirela Imre, Ion Oprescu, Simona Dumitru, Tiana Florea, Sorin Morariu, Vlad Iorgoni, Anamaria Plesko, Gabriel Orghici, Marius Stelian Ilie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
<i>Babesia</i> spp.
<i>Anaplasma</i> spp.
PCR
ELISA
wild boar
ticks
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/15/2211
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Summary:Wild boars (<i>Sus scrofa</i>) and their associated ticks represent important reservoirs and vectors for a variety of zoonotic pathogens, particularly <i>Anaplasma</i> spp. and <i>Babesia</i> spp. The aim of this review is to highlight the diagnostic methods employed throughout the past two decades to detect these pathogens in wild boars and their associated ticks, focusing especially on PCR methods (conventional and real-time), on sample origin (host or vector), and on specific primers. This review compiles data from studies conducted between 2005 and 2024, providing a comparative overview of targeted genes, such as groEL, msp2, and 16S rRNA for <i>Anaplasma</i>, and 18S rRNA for <i>Babesia</i>. Despite the prevalence of molecular diagnostic techniques, serological methods like ELISA have not been applied to wild boar or tick samples in this context. The review also analyzes geographical trends, with a higher research output noted in Central and Eastern Europe, Japan, and the United States. The performance of the methods is discussed based on reproducibility, sensitivity, specificity, pathogen prevalence, and technical variables. By synthesizing these findings, the review identifies methodological gaps and offers a reference framework for improving diagnostic accuracy in wildlife disease surveillance.
ISSN:2076-2615

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