Kleszcze [Ixodidae] w zoonotycznym rozprzestrzenianiu piroplazm Babesia micorti i Babesia diverens

Recent advance in the knowledge of the role of Ixodidae in the epidemiology of human piroplasmosis is reviewed, with special emphasis on Babesia species which cause diseases in man. The problem in Europe came to medical attention since 20 cases have been reported, and most of them due to B. divergens. However, contrary to other European countries, the zoonotic reservoir of Babesia spp. in Poland is unknown and futher research is required to elucidate the importance of Ixodidae in the transmission of piroplasms.