Genome sequence of Rhipicephalus bursa, a major vector of Babesia ovis.

"Rhipicephalus bursa is a multi-host tick widely distributed in the Mediterranean region having cattle, sheep, and goats as its primary hosts but can occasionally be found in other vertebrates including humans. This tick is the main vector of Babesia ovis, a highly pathogenic organism, that infects red blood cells of its vertebrate host but it transmits other pathogens such as Rickettsia spp. and Anaplasma spp.. A deeper insight into genomic data on R.bursa will provide fundamental information that can be interrogated to study key elements of tick-host-parasite interactions."