First detection ofand enzootic focus ofin cattle from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Abstract

is a tick-borne intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite of cattle causing oriental or benign theileriosis. It has a worldwide distribution and is not considered a zoonotic agent, while the disease symptoms range from subclinical to severe.spp. are very common co-infecting agents with other tick borne pathogens such asspp.,spp. including zoonoticwith rising prominence. This study is an exploratory investigation of the occurrence ofspp. and other blood parasites in cattle from Gacko and Bileća, Herzegovina. Blood samples from 35 clinically healthy cattle were selected based on veterinary reports of tick infestation and examined microscopically, by PCR (;) and qPCR (). Microscopy revealed intraerythrocytic bacterial forms in multiple samples.DNA was detected in one andDNA in 34 samples. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, theisolate was grouped with isolates from Europe, suggesting regional pathogen circulation.gene analysis placed the isolate in European group I, but outside the zoonotic subcluster, indicating a ruminant-associated lineage maintained primarily in wildlife-cycles. The 18S rRNA gene sequencing showed subtle regional clustering ofisolates. This is the first molecular confirmation ofin cattle from Eastern Herzegovina and identification of possible enzootic foci ofinfection, deeming further investigation into tick vectors and reservoir hosts in the region.