https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:1910 Babesiosis in Southeastern, Central and Northeastern Europe: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Tick-Borne Disease of Humans and Animals Bajer, Anna Anna Bajer University of Warsaw Walochnik, Julia Julia Walochnik 0000-0003-0356-2853 Medical University of Vienna Tolkacz, Katarzyna Katarzyna Tolkacz 0000-0002-8578-3870 University of Warsaw Strube, Christina Christina Strube 0000-0002-9093-1006 University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Springer, Andrea Andrea Springer 0000-0002-0051-9086 University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Schnyder, Manuela Manuela Schnyder 0000-0002-6523-7952 University of Zurich Ranka, Renate Renate Ranka Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre Radzijevskaja, Jana Jana Radzijevskaja Vytautas Magnus University Paulauskas, Algimantas Algimantas Paulauskas Vytautas Magnus University Oborina, Valentina Valentina Oborina Estonian University of Life Sciences Leschnik, Michael Michael Leschnik 0000-0001-6312-8579 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Jokelainen, Pikka Pikka Jokelainen 0000-0002-3035-5094 Statens Serum Institut Heddergott, Mike Mike Heddergott 0000-0003-4536-5508 Musée National d'Historire Naturelle Fuehrer, Hans-Peter Hans-Peter Fuehrer 0000-0002-4178-0133 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna Farkas, Róbert Róbert Farkas University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest Eichenberger, Ramon M. Ramon M. Eichenberger 0000-0002-9337-9616 University of Zurich Dwużnik-Szarek, Dorota Dorota Dwużnik-Szarek 0000-0003-2264-8345 University of Warsaw Behnke, Jerzy M. Jerzy M. Behnke 0000-0001-9396-2572 University of Nottingham Beck, Relja Relja Beck 0000-0002-5304-2875 Croatian Veterinary Institute Beck, Ana Ana Beck MDPI text eng There is now considerable evidence that in Europe, babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease, with some of the causative species spreading as a consequence of the increasing range of their tick vector hosts. In this review, we summarize both the historic records and recent findings on the occurrence and incidence of babesiosis in 20 European countries located in southeastern Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia), central Europe (Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland), and northern and northeastern Europe (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway), identified in humans and selected species of domesticated animals (cats, dogs, horses, and cattle). Recorded cases of human babesiosis are still rare, but their number is expected to rise in the coming years. This is because of the widespread and longer seasonal activity of Ixodes ricinus as a result of climate change and because of the more extensive use of better molecular diagnostic methods. Bovine babesiosis has a re-emerging potential because of the likely loss of herd immunity, while canine babesiosis is rapidly expanding in central and northeastern Europe, its occurrence correlating with the rapid, successful expansion of the ornate dog tick (Dermacentor reticulatus) populations in Europe. Taken together, our analysis of the available reports shows clear evidence of an increasing annual incidence of babesiosis across Europe in both humans and animals that is changing in line with similar increases in the incidence of other tick-borne diseases. This situation is of major concern, and we recommend more extensive and frequent, standardized monitoring using a "One Health" approach. Dermacentor-Reticulatus Ticks; Ixodes-Ricinus Ticks; Theileria-Equi Infection; Foxes Vulpes-Vulpes; Canine Babesiosis; Molecular Characterization; Anaplasma-Phagocytophilum; Borrelia-Burgdorferi; Gibsoni Infection; Hepatozoon-Canis http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:1910/download 10.3390/microorganisms10050945 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Microorganisms 10(5) (2022) Microorganisms 10 5 999.90 kB 2022