RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis are tick-borne infections of great significance in South Africa. Theileriosis in dogs in South Africa is still poorly understood. Co-infection with multiple tick-borne diseases has been documented and is perceived as a common occurrence in South Africa. OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of co-infections with Ehrlichia canis or Theileria equi in dogs with babesiosis in the Eastern Cape province. There is a lack of data on canine tick-borne disease distribution in this region. Possible associations of population characteristics and haematological and biochemistry measures with a co-infection of E. canis or T. equi in these dogs were also investigated. METHOD: The study population included 150 dogs naturally infected with babesiosis that presented to the Mdantsane State Veterinary Clinic between January 2021 and November 2021. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to confirm the Babesia spp. that the dogs were infected with and to identify co-infections. Association with co-infection for the following parameters were evaluated: sex, breed, age, duration of illness, leukocyte count, band neutrophil count, monocyte count, platelet count, ARC, and serum globulin concentration. Positive and negative predictive values of monocytosis, leukopenia, band neutrophilia, thrombocytopenia, and non-regenerative absolute reticulocyte count for co-infection were also calculated. RESULTS: Babesia rossi was identified in 149/150 samples and B. vogeli in only 1/150 samples. A co-infection prevalence of 2.0% (3/149; 95% CI: 0.4-5.7) with B. rossi and E. canis was found. No other co-infections were reported. No investigated variables showed significant associations with co-infections. Monocytosis, in particular, was not associated with co-infection. CONCLUSION: Co-infection with other tick-borne diseases in dogs with babesiosis is uncommon in the Eastern Cape province. These findings raise the possibility that B. rossi may have a protective effect against other tick-borne diseases.

Asunto(s)

Babesiosis , Coinfección , Enfermedades de los Perros , Ehrlichiosis , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Perros , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Babesiosis/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Perros/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Perros/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Perros/microbiología , Coinfección/veterinaria , Coinfección/epidemiología , Coinfección/parasitología , Ehrlichiosis/epidemiología , Ehrlichiosis/veterinaria , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Prevalencia , Femenino , Masculino , Sudáfrica/epidemiología , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Ehrlichia canis/aislamiento & purificación , Ehrlichia/aislamiento & purificación

RESUMEN

Tropical theileriosis is a lymphoproliferative disease caused by Theileria annulata and is transmitted by Ixodid ticks of the genus Hyalomma. It causes significant losses in livestock, especially in exotic cattle. The existing methods for controlling it, chemotherapeutic agents and a vaccine based on an attenuated schizont stage parasite, have several limitations. A promising solution to control this disease is the use of molecular vaccines based on potential immunogenic proteins of T. annulata. For this purpose, we selected five antigenic sequences of T. annulata, i.e. SPAG-1, Tams, TaSP, spm2, and Ta9. These were subjected to epitope prediction for cytotoxic T lymphocytes, B-cells, and helper T lymphocytes. CTL and B-cell epitopes with a higher score whereas those of HTL with a lower score, were selected for the construct. A single protein was constructed using specific linkers and evaluated for high antigenicity and low allergenicity. The construct was acidic, hydrophobic, and thermostable in nature. Secondary and tertiary structures of this construct were drawn using the PSIPRED and RaptorX servers, respectively. A Ramachandran plot showed a high percentage of residues in this construct in favorable, allowed, and general regions. Molecular docking studies suggested that the complex was stable and our construct could potentially be a good candidate for immunization trials. Furthermore, we successfully cloned it into the pET-28a plasmid and transformed it into the BL21 strain. A restriction analysis was performed to confirm the transformation of our plasmid. After expression and purification, recombinant protein of 49 kDa was confirmed by western blotting. An ELISA detected increased specific antibody levels in the sera of the immunized animals compared with the control group, and flow cytometric analysis showed a stronger cell-mediated immune response. We believe our multi-epitope recombinant protein has the potential for the large-scale application for disease prevention globally in the bovine population. This study will act as a model for similar parasitic challenges.

Asunto(s)

Inmunidad Celular , Inmunidad Humoral , Proteínas Recombinantes , Theileria annulata , Theileriosis , Theileria annulata/inmunología , Theileria annulata/genética , Animales , Bovinos , Theileriosis/inmunología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Theileriosis/prevención & control , Proteínas Recombinantes/inmunología , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Epítopos de Linfocito T/inmunología , Epítopos de Linfocito B/inmunología , Vacunas Antiprotozoos/inmunología , Proteínas Protozoarias/inmunología , Proteínas Protozoarias/genética , Simulación por Computador , Antígenos de Protozoos/inmunología , Antígenos de Protozoos/genética , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/sangre

RESUMEN

Several miRNA-based studies on Theileria-transformed bovine cells have been conducted; however, the mechanism by which transformed cells exhibit uncontrolled proliferation is not yet fully understood. Therefore, it is necessary to screen more microRNAs that may play a role in the transformation process of host cells infected with Theileria annulata to better understand the transformation mechanisms of Theileria-infected cells. RNA sequencing was used to analyze miRNAs expression in the host bovine lymphocytes infected with T. annulata at different time points after buparvaquone (BW720) treatment and DMSO treatment (control groups). Differential miRNAs related to cell proliferation and apoptosis were identified through comparison with gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases, and a regulatory network of miRNA-mRNA was constructed. In total, 272 differentially expressed miRNAs were found at 36, 60 and 72 h. The miRNAs change of bta-miR-2285t, novel-miR-622, bta-miR-2478, and novel-miR-584 were significant. Analysis of 27 of these co-differential expressed miRNAs revealed that 15 miRNAs were down-regulated and 12 miRNAs were up-regulated. A further analysis of the changes in the expression of each of these 27 miRNAs in the three datasets suggested that bta-miR-2285t, bta-miR-345-5p, bta-miR-34a, bta-miR-150, and the novel-miR-1372 had significantly changed. Predicted target genes for these 27 miRNAs were analyzed by KEGG and the results demonstrated that EZR, RASSF, SOCS1 were mainly enriched in the signaling pathway microRNAs in cancer. MAPKAPK2, RELB, FLT3LG, and GADD45B were mainly enriched in the MAPK signaling pathway, and some genes were enriched in Axon guidance. This study has provided valuable information to further the understanding of the regulatory function of miRNAs in the host microenvironment and host-parasite interaction mechanisms.

Asunto(s)

Linfocitos , MicroARNs , Naftoquinonas , Theileria annulata , Animales , Theileria annulata/genética , MicroARNs/genética , MicroARNs/metabolismo , Bovinos , Naftoquinonas/farmacología , Linfocitos/metabolismo , Theileriosis/parasitología , Theileriosis/tratamiento farmacológico , Perfilación de la Expresión Génica , Redes Reguladoras de Genes

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Theileriosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoon species in the Theileria genus of the Theileriidae family. The biochemical changes induced by infection are considered to be an important understanding of the pathophysiology of caprine theileriosis. In this study, it was aimed to determine oxidative stress, thyroid hormones, trace elements, and biochemical parameters in theileriosis infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 14 goat was used for this purpose, of which 7 were healthy and 7 were infected with Theileria ovis. Theileria infection was diagnosed from the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Sera from blood samples was tested for total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant capacity (TOC), oxidative stress index (OSI), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), total protein, albumin, triglyceride, cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), urea, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), iron (Fe). RESULT: TOC, OSI, AST, ALT and GGT values were higher in the patient group than in the healthy group (P < 0.05). On the other hand, there were decreases in TAC, T3, T4, total protein, albumin, creatinine, Cu, Zn, Se, and Co values (P < 0.05). However, there was not found to be a statistical difference between the healthy and patient groups in terms of triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, LDL, urea, BUN, Mn, and Fe values (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It can be stated that oxidative stress is a complication of caprine theileriosis and it may be accompanied with hypothyroidism and deficits in trace minerals.

Asunto(s)

Biomarcadores , Enfermedades de las Cabras , Cabras , Estrés Oxidativo , Theileria , Theileriosis , Hormonas Tiroideas , Oligoelementos , Animales , Theileriosis/parasitología , Theileriosis/sangre , Enfermedades de las Cabras/parasitología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/sangre , Hormonas Tiroideas/sangre , Oligoelementos/sangre , Biomarcadores/sangre

Asunto(s)

Ixodidae , Theileria , Animales , China/epidemiología , Theileria/genética , Filogenia , Theileriosis/parasitología , Theileriosis/epidemiología

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Theileria haneyi is one of the three known causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. While imidocarb is generally effective in the clearance of the highly pathogenic Theileria equi, it is ineffective in the treatment of T. haneyi. Moreover, co-infection with T. haneyi has been shown to impede the successful treatment of T. equi. Furthermore, tulathromycin and diclazuril have demonstrated inefficacy in eradicating T. haneyi. The absence of an effective therapeutic agent against this parasite represents a significant obstacle in managing equine piroplasmosis. METHODS: To address this issue, we evaluated the efficacy of buparvaquone in the treatment of T. haneyi in chronically infected horses. RESULTS: Our findings showed that treatment of horses with the recommended dose of 2.5 mg/kg of buparvaquone led to a rapid abatement of T. haneyi levels, to a level where the parasites were not detectable by nested PCR. Following treatment, the horses remained PCR negative for a minimum of seven weeks until recrudescence occurred. Subsequent re-administration of buparvaquone at an increased dosage of 6 mg/kg upon recrudescence failed to exert a theilericidal effect on T. haneyi. Throughout the treatment regimen, the hematological parameters of the horses and most components of the chemistry panel remained within the normal range, except for blood urea nitrogen levels, which fell below the normal range in certain instances. CONCLUSIONS: BPQ at 2.5 mg/kg and 6 mg/kg had a robust theilericidal effect but was ineffective in the clearance of the T. haneyi infection in persistently infected animals.

Asunto(s)

Antiprotozoarios , Enfermedades de los Caballos , Naftoquinonas , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Theileriosis/tratamiento farmacológico , Theileriosis/parasitología , Caballos , Theileria/efectos de los fármacos , Enfermedades de los Caballos/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades de los Caballos/parasitología , Naftoquinonas/uso terapéutico , Naftoquinonas/farmacología , Naftoquinonas/administración & dosificación , Antiprotozoarios/uso terapéutico , Antiprotozoarios/administración & dosificación , Resultado del Tratamiento , Enfermedad Crónica , Masculino

RESUMEN

Piroplasm including Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in cattle can cause illness that affects livestock productivity, resulting in significant production losses, especially in tropical and subtropical regions such as Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of bovine piroplasms and to identify these blood parasites based on the 18S ribosomal RNA gene in cattle in the northeastern part of Thailand. Piroplasmid infections among beef and dairy cattle were examined using nested PCR. Furthermore, amplicon DNA was sequenced and analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the genetic diversity and relationships of the parasite in each area. A total of 141 out of 215 (65.6%) cattle were positive for infection with Babesia or Theileria. DNA analysis revealed that infection by Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, Theileria orientalis, Theileria sinensis, and Theileria sp. were common piroplasms in cattle in this region, with a high sequence shared identity and similarity with each other and clustered with isolates from other countries. This study provides information on the molecular epidemiology and genetic identification of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in beef and dairy cattle to provide a better understanding of piroplasm infection in cattle in this region, which will help control these blood parasites. Moreover, this is the first report identifying T. sinensis circulating among Thai cattle.

Asunto(s)

Babesia , Babesiosis , Enfermedades de los Bovinos , ADN Protozoario , Filogenia , ARN Ribosómico 18S , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Bovinos , Tailandia/epidemiología , Theileria/genética , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Theileria/clasificación , Babesiosis/parasitología , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Babesia/genética , Babesia/clasificación , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , ARN Ribosómico 18S/genética , ADN Protozoario/genética , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Prevalencia , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Variación Genética , ADN Ribosómico/genética , ADN Ribosómico/química , Análisis por Conglomerados

RESUMEN

Theileriosis caused by Theileria parva infections is responsible for high cattle mortalities in Zambia. Although infected buffalo are a risk to cattle, the characterization of T. parva parasites occurring in this host in Zambia has not been reported. Furthermore, considering the advances in the development of a p67 subunit vaccine, the knowledge of p67 genetic and antigenic diversity in both cattle and buffalo associated T. parva is crucial. Therefore, blood samples from buffalo (n=43) from Central, Eastern and Southern provinces, and cattle (n=834) from Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Lusaka, and Southern provinces, were tested for T. parva infection and the parasites characterized by sequencing the gene encoding the p67 antigen. About 76.7 % of buffalo and 19.3 % of cattle samples were PCR positive for T. parva. Three of the four known p67 allele types (1, 2 and 3) were identified in parasites from buffalo, of which two (allele types 2 and 3) are associated with T. parva parasites responsible for Corridor disease. Only allele type 1, associated with East Coast fever, was identified from cattle samples, consistent with previous reports from Zambia. Phylogenetic analysis revealed segregation between allele type 1 sequences from cattle and buffalo samples as they grouped separately within the same sub-clade. The high occurrence of T. parva infection in buffalo samples investigated demonstrates the risk of Corridor disease infection, or even outbreaks, should naïve cattle co-graze with infected buffalo in the presence of the tick vector. In view of a subunit vaccine, the antigenic diversity in buffalo associated T. parva should be considered to ensure broad protection. The current disease control measures in Zambia may require re-evaluation to ensure that cattle are protected against buffalo-derived T. parva infections. Parasite stocks used in 'infection and treatment' immunization in Zambia, have not been evaluated for protection against buffalo-derived T. parva parasites currently circulating in the buffalo population.

Asunto(s)

Alelos , Antígenos de Protozoos , Búfalos , Theileria parva , Theileriosis , Animales , Búfalos/parasitología , Theileria parva/genética , Theileria parva/inmunología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Zambia/epidemiología , Bovinos , Antígenos de Protozoos/genética , Filogenia , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Proteínas Protozoarias

RESUMEN

Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. are tick-borne protozoan parasites with veterinary importance. In China, epidemiological and genetic investigations on many Babesia and Theileria species were still absent in many areas and many tick species. From Aug 2021 to May 2023, 645 ticks were collected from the body surface of domestic animals (camels, goats, sheep, and cattle) using tweezers in seven counties in three provinces including Xinjiang (Qitai, Mulei, Hutubi, and Shihezi counties), Chongqing (Youyang and Yunyang counties), and Qinghai (Huangzhong county). Three tick species were morphologically and molecularly identified (334 Hyalomma asiaticum from Xinjiang, 245 Rhipicephalus microplus from Chongqing, and 66 Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis from Qinghai). A total of three Babesia species and two Theileria species were detected targeting the 18S gene. The COI and cytb sequences were also recovered from Babesia strains for further identification. In R. microplus from Chongqing, Babesia bigemina, the agent of bovine babesiosis, was detected. Notably, in H. asiaticum ticks from Xinjiang, a putative novel genotype of Babesia caballi was identified (0.90%, 3/334), whose COI and cytb genes have as low as 85.82% and 90.64-90.91% nucleotide identities to currently available sequences. It is noteworthy whether the sequence differences of its cytb contribute to the drug resistance of this variant due to the involvement of cytb in the drug resistance of Babesia. In addition, Theileria orientalis and Theileria annulata were detected in R. microplus from Chongqing (12.20%, 31/245) and H. asiaticum from Xinjiang (1.50%, 5/334), respectively. These results suggest that these protozoan parasites may be circulating in domestic animals in these areas. The pathogenicity of the novel genotype of B. caballi also warrants further investigation.

Asunto(s)

Babesia , Genotipo , Theileria , Animales , Babesia/genética , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/clasificación , Theileria/genética , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , China/epidemiología , Bovinos , Filogenia , Ixodidae/parasitología , Ovinos , Babesiosis/parasitología , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Cabras

RESUMEN

Equine piroplasmosis is not fully understood regarding pathogenicity, prophylaxis, host immune response expression, and specific vectors. Accurately identifying the parasite vector is crucial for developing an effective control plan for a particular infection. This study focused on morphologically identifying two Hyalomma species (H. anatolicum and H. marginatum) and one Rhipicephalus annulatus (R. annulatus) at the species level. The identification process was followed by phylogenetic analysis using the neighbor-joining method based on the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COXI) gene as a specific vector for Theileria equi (T. equi) in horses. T. equi was diagnosed morphologically and molecularly from infected blood samples and crushed tick species using conventional PCR. Subsequently, phylogenetic analysis based on the amplification of the 18 S rRNA gene was conducted. The obtained sequence data were evaluated and registered in GenBank under accession numbers OR064161, OR067911, OR187727, and OR068139, representing the three tick species and the isolated T. equi, respectively. The study demonstrated that T. equi infection leads to immune system suppression by significantly increasing the levels of oxidative stress markers (CAT, GPx, MDA, and SOD) (P ≤ 0.0001), with this elevation being directly proportional to parasitemia levels in infected blood cells. Furthermore, a correlation was observed between parasitemia levels and the expression of immune response infection genes (IFN-gamma, TGF-ß1, and IL-1ß cytokines) in infected horses compared to non-infected equine. Common macroscopic symptoms indicating T. equi infection in horses include intermittent fever, enlarged lymph nodes (LN), and tick infestation.

Asunto(s)

Enfermedades de los Caballos , Ixodidae , Filogenia , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Theileria/genética , Egipto , Theileriosis/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/parasitología , Caballos , Ixodidae/fisiología , Vectores Arácnidos/parasitología , Rhipicephalus/fisiología , Femenino , ARN Ribosómico 18S/análisis

RESUMEN

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a global worldwide infection, which can lead to the death of animals. Despite the causative agents of EP being well studied, there are no data on the distribution and genetic characteristics of EP agents in any region of Russia. In this study, blood samples from 750 horses from Novosibirsk province, Irkutsk province, and Altai region of Russian Siberia were examined for the presence of EP agents. Theileria equi and Babesia caballi were detected in all examined regions, with mean prevalence rates of 60.4% and 7.2%, respectively. The identified pathogens were genetically characterized by the 18S rRNA gene. The determined T. equi sequences were highly conserved and belonged to genotypes A and E, with genotype E being found in 88.6% of genotyped samples. In contrast to T. equi, B. caballi sequences were genetically diverse. Seven sequence variants of B. caballi were identified, and only two of them matched known sequences from the GenBank database. The determined B. caballi sequences belonged to four distinct branches within genotype A. Mixed infections with several variants of B. caballi or with T. equi and B. caballi were common. The conducted phylogenetic analysis based on all available B. caballi sequences of the 18S rRNA gene (> 900 bp) from GenBank and from this study first demonstrated the presence of five monophyletic clusters within genotype A and three clusters within genotype B. Thus, the genetic study of B. caballi from Siberia has significantly expanded the data on the genetic diversity of this pathogen.

Asunto(s)

Babesia , Babesiosis , Variación Genética , Genotipo , Enfermedades de los Caballos , Filogenia , ARN Ribosómico 18S , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Theileria/genética , Theileria/clasificación , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/genética , Babesia/clasificación , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Babesiosis/parasitología , Caballos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/epidemiología , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , ARN Ribosómico 18S/genética , Prevalencia , Federación de Rusia/epidemiología , ADN Protozoario/genética , Siberia/epidemiología , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , ADN Ribosómico/genética , ADN Ribosómico/química

RESUMEN

Raising small ruminants is the main source of income for farmers in Pakistan especially in rural areas of Dera Ghazi Khan in Punjab. Despite having large sheep population, the prevalence of intra-erythrocytic protozoa, Theileria (T.) lestoquardi, has never been reported from this area. This study was conducted to fill this knowledge gap and 333 blood samples of apparently healthy small ruminants (168 sheep and 165 goats) along with their epidemiological data were collected from Dera Ghazi Khan district during August till November 2022. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis amplified a 785 base pair amplicon specific for the Merozoite surface antigen (ms 1-2) gene of T. lestoquardi in 2 out of the 168 (3.3%) sheep blood samples, while no goat blood sample out of 165 was found to be infected with T. lestoquardi. DNA sequencing confirmed the presence of Theileria lestoquardi in both samples and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these amplicon resembled the partial ms 1-2 gene sequences detected in small ruminants from Pakistan, India Iran and Egypt. All the studied epidemiological factors (age, sex, breed, size of herd, dogs with herd, composition of herd, size of herd and Tick burden on sheep) were not found associated with the prevalence of T. lestoquardi. In conclusion, this study reports a low prevalence of T. lestoquardi infection in the Dera Ghazi Khan District of Punjab, Pakistan. The data generated from this work will help pave the way for the prophylactic detection and control of ovine and caprine theileriosis in the region.

Asunto(s)

Cabras , Filogenia , Enfermedades de las Ovejas , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Theileria/genética , Theileria/clasificación , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Theileriosis/sangre , Ovinos/parasitología , Pakistán/epidemiología , Cabras/parasitología , Prevalencia , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/parasitología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/sangre , Factores de Riesgo , Enfermedades de las Cabras/parasitología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/sangre , Femenino , Masculino

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Piroplasmosis is a common and prevalent tick-borne disease that affects equids. OBJECTIVES: To determine the infection and molecular characteristics of the piroplasms in donkeys from Xinjiang, northwestern China, we undertook a cross sectional study by collecting representative samples across several counties within the region. METHODS: A total of 344 blood samples were collected from adult domestic donkeys from 13 counties in Xinjiang. PCR was conducted to test for T. equi and B. caballi in the blood samples based on the equine merozoite antigen-1 (Ema-1) gene and the 48 kDa rhoptry protein (BC48) gene, respectively. RESULTS: Sixteen blood samples tested positive for piroplasms and the overall infection rate was 4.7% (16/344). Seven of the 13 counties were positive for piroplasms. Among the 16 piroplasm-positive samples, 15 were singly infected with T. equi with an infection rate of 4.4% (15/344), and coinfection with T. equi and B. caballi was detected in one sample (0.3%, 1/344) from Wushi. Four T. equi sequence genotypes were identified and grouped into different branches of the evolutionary trees. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the infection rate of piroplasms is low in domestic donkeys in southern Xinjiang and that T. equi genotypes have a regional distribution.

Asunto(s)

Babesia , Babesiosis , Equidae , Theileria , Animales , Equidae/parasitología , China/epidemiología , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Babesiosis/parasitología , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/genética , Babesia/clasificación , Theileria/genética , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Estudios Transversales , Femenino , Masculino , Prevalencia , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Tick-borne diseases cause economically significant losses to animal production globally, and anaplasmosis and theileriosis are associated with the greatest losses. However, the spread of the relevant pathogens in flocks of domesticated animals in southern Egypt is little understood. Accordingly, in this study, we aimed to determine the prevalences of Anaplasma ovis, Theileria ovis, and Theileria lestoquardi in southern Egyptian sheep and goats through blood tests, and to make a molecular characterization of the A. ovis detected in sheep targeting a specific gene. RESULTS: We collected blood samples collected from 300 sheep and goats (n=150 /species) in Luxor Province in southern Egypt, and analyzed them for the presence of A. ovis, T. ovis and T. lestoquardi with screening by conventional and nested PCR targeting the msp4 and msp5, 18S rRNA, and merozoite surface protein genes. For A. ovis 140/300 samples (46.66%) were positive overall, with 90/150 (60%) and 50/150 (33.33%) positive samples in sheep and goats, respectively. Two major surface protein genes of A. ovis, msp4 and msp5, were sequenced using DNA extracted from sheep and goat blood samples, for phylogenetic analysis and genotyping. The msp4 gene sequence revealed no significant genetic diversity, to contrast to data on A. ovis strains from other countries. For T. lestoquardi, 8/150 (5.33%) samples were positive in sheep, but no samples were positive in goats (0%). For T. ovis, 32/150 (21.33%) samples were positive in sheep, but no samples were positive in goats (0%). Sequencing targeting the merozoite surface protein gene for T. lestoquardi and the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene for T. ovis revealed no significant genetic diversity in the study, another contrast to data on A. ovis strains from other countries. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable data on phylogenetic and molecular classifications of A. ovis, T. ovis and T. lestoquardi found in southern Egyptian sheep and goats. It also represents the first report on detection and molecular characterization of T. lestoquardi in southern Egyptian sheep based on the specific merozoite surface protein gene, thus providing valuable data for molecular characterization of this pathogen in southern Egypt.

Asunto(s)

Anaplasma ovis , Anaplasmosis , Enfermedades de las Cabras , Cabras , Enfermedades de las Ovejas , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Egipto/epidemiología , Theileria/genética , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Theileria/clasificación , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Ovinos , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/parasitología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/epidemiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/microbiología , Enfermedades de las Cabras/parasitología , Anaplasmosis/epidemiología , Anaplasmosis/microbiología , Anaplasma ovis/genética , Anaplasma ovis/aislamiento & purificación , Prevalencia , Filogenia , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria

RESUMEN

Equine piroplasmosis is caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, which are hemoprotozoan parasites. Understanding the epidemiology and genotypes of T. equi and B. caballi is crucial for developing effective control strategies in endemic countries. However, the endemic status of these two parasite species remains uncertain in Kyrgyzstan due to lack of surveys. Our study, therefore, aimed to detect T. equi and B. caballi infections in Kyrgyzstan and identify their genotypes. Blood samples were collected from 226 horses across all seven provinces of Kyrgyzstan, namely Chuy, Issyk-Kul, Naryn, Talas, Jalal-Abad, Osh, and Batken. These blood samples were subjected to DNA extraction, followed by specific PCR assays targeting T. equi and B. caballi. We found that 56 (24.8%, confidence interval (CI): 19.6-30.8%) and 7 (3.1%, CI: 1.5-6.3%) of the tested horses were positive for T. equi and B. caballi infections, respectively. Theileria equi was detected in all surveyed provinces, whereas B. caballi was found in five provinces, except for Talas and Osh. Subsequent genotype-specific PCR assays showed that T. equi-positive horses harbored all five genotypes: A, B, C (also known as Theileria haneyi), D, and E. On the other hand, phylogenetic analysis of B. caballi rap-1 sequences detected the genotypes A and B1. The prevalence of T. equi and B. caballi suggests a potential risk of clinical equine piroplasmosis among horses in Kyrgyzstan, and the observed genotypic diversity underscores the challenges in managing the disease. Our findings emphasize the need for comprehensive control measures to effectively address equine piroplasmosis in Kyrgyzstan.

Asunto(s)

Babesia , Babesiosis , Variación Genética , Genotipo , Enfermedades de los Caballos , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Caballos , Theileria/genética , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/genética , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/clasificación , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Babesiosis/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/epidemiología , Kirguistán/epidemiología , Prevalencia , Filogenia

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: Vector-borne haemoprotozoan diseases comprise diverse group of single celled organism transmitted by haematophagus invertebrates. The current study was aimed at the identification of major haemoprotozoan (Babesia, Theileria and Trypanosoma) in dromedary camel of North Gujarat region in India using microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). METHODS: A total of 234 blood samples were screened by the microscopic and molecular detection assays. Molecular prevalence studies of Theileria, Trypanosoma spp and Babesia was undertaken using 18s ribosomal DNA, RoTat 1.2 and SS rRNA gene respectively. The data relating to microscopic and molecular prevalence along with associated risk factors were analysed by statistical methods. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of hamoprotozoan disease based on microscopic and molecular investigation was 23.50%. The sensitivity and specificity (95% Confidence Interval) of PCR assay was 100% in comparison to microscopy (45.45 % sensitive and 100 % specific). The kappa coefficient between PCR and microscopy indicated good level of agreement with a value of 0.704 and SE of 0.159. INTERPRETATION CONCLUSION: Despite holding much significance to the animal sector, little work has been undertaken in regional parts of India regarding camel parasites. The present study offers first preliminary research data investigating haemoprotozoan disease using parasitological and molecular methods in camels in the region.

Asunto(s)

Babesia , Camelus , Microscopía , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , ARN Ribosómico 18S , Theileria , Theileriosis , Trypanosoma , Animales , Camelus/parasitología , India/epidemiología , Trypanosoma/genética , Trypanosoma/aislamiento & purificación , Trypanosoma/clasificación , Theileria/genética , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Theileria/clasificación , Babesia/genética , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/clasificación , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , ARN Ribosómico 18S/genética , ADN Protozoario/genética , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Babesiosis/parasitología , Prevalencia , Masculino , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , Tripanosomiasis/veterinaria , Tripanosomiasis/epidemiología , Tripanosomiasis/parasitología , Femenino , Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores/epidemiología , Enfermedades Transmitidas por Vectores/parasitología , ADN Ribosómico/genética

RESUMEN

The Garrano is a semi-feral horse breed native to several mountains in the northern Iberian Peninsula. Despite being endangered, this unique breed of pony has managed to survive in the wild and continues to be selectively bred, highlighting their remarkable resilience and adaptability to harsh environments. Wildlife plays a critical role in the survival of tick vectors in their natural habitats and the transfer of tick-borne pathogens, as they can serve as reservoir hosts for many agents and amplifiers for these vectors. The semi-feral lifestyle of the Garrano horses makes them particularly vulnerable to exposure to numerous tick species throughout the year. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Babesia, Theileria, and spotted fever rickettsiae in the Garrano horse ticks to obtain a knowledge of circulating agents in this host population. The collected ticks (n = 455) were identified as Rhipicephalus bursa. DNA specimens were organized in pools of 5 ticks, for molecular screening. Pools PCR results confirmed the presence of Candidatus Rickettsia barbariae (n = 12 for the ompB gene, n = 11 for the ompA gene and n = 6 for the gltA gene), Babesia bigemina (n = 1), Babesia caballi (n = 3), Theileria equi (n = 15) and Theileria haneyi (n = 1).These results confirm the circulation of an emerging rickettsial spotted fever group member, Candidatus R. barbariae, in R. bursa ticks. Our findings demonstrated that Candidatus R. barbariae co-circulates with B. bigemina and T. equi, which are vectored by R. bursa. We are reporting for the first time, the detection of T. haneyi among R. bursa ticks feeding in the Garrano horses in Portugal. Surveillance studies for tick-borne infections are essential to provide information that can facilitate the implementation of preventive and control strategies.

Asunto(s)

Babesia , Enfermedades de los Caballos , Rhipicephalus , Theileria , Animales , Caballos/parasitología , Portugal/epidemiología , Rhipicephalus/microbiología , Rhipicephalus/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/epidemiología , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Theileria/genética , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/genética , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/veterinaria , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/parasitología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/microbiología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiología , Femenino , Anaplasma/aislamiento & purificación , Anaplasma/genética , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Rickettsia/aislamiento & purificación , Rickettsia/genética , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/parasitología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Ehrlichia/aislamiento & purificación , Ehrlichia/genética , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Babesiosis/parasitología

RESUMEN

Theileria equi (T. equi) is an apicomplexan parasite that causes severe hemolytic anemia in equids. Presently, there is inadequate knowledge of the immune responses induced by T. equi in equid hosts impeding understanding of the host parasite relationship and development of potent vaccines for control of T. equi infections. The objective of this study was to evaluate the host-parasite dynamics between T. equi merozoites and infected horses by assessing cytokine expression during primary and secondary parasite exposure, and to determine whether the pattern of expression correlated with clinical indicators of disease. Our findings showed that the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was very low and inconsistent during both primary and secondary infection. There was also no correlation between the symptoms observed during primary infection and expression of the cytokines. This suggests that the symptoms might have occurred primarily due to hemolysis and likely not the undesirable effects of pro-inflammatory responses. However, IL-10 and TGF-ß1 were highly expressed in both phases of infection, and their expression was linked to antibody production but not moderation of pro-inflammatory cytokine responses.

Asunto(s)

Enfermedades de los Caballos , Interleucina-10 , Theileria , Theileriosis , Factor de Crecimiento Transformador beta1 , Animales , Caballos , Theileriosis/inmunología , Theileriosis/parasitología , Interleucina-10/metabolismo , Interleucina-10/inmunología , Theileria/inmunología , Factor de Crecimiento Transformador beta1/metabolismo , Enfermedades de los Caballos/inmunología , Enfermedades de los Caballos/parasitología , Merozoítos/inmunología , Anticuerpos Antiprotozoarios/inmunología , Formación de Anticuerpos/inmunología , Citocinas/metabolismo , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos/inmunología

RESUMEN

Theileria orientalis, the causal agent of oriental theileriosis, is known to cause mild disease in cattle and buffalo across the world. Recently, different genotypes of T. orientalis have emerged as pathogenic, causing high reported morbidity in cattle. This study focuses on investigating three suspected outbreaks of oriental theileriosis that resulted in fatalities among crossbred and indigenous bulls in Karnataka, India. Examination of blood smears revealed the presence of T. orientalis piroplasms within erythrocytes. The genetic characterization of T. orientalis was conducted by targeting specific markers, including the mpsp gene, p23 gene, and ribosomal DNA markers (18S rRNA gene, ITS-1, and ITS-2). Analysis based on the 18S rRNA gene unveiled the presence of both Type A and Type E genotypes of T. orientalis in the outbreaks. The mpsp gene-based analysis identified genotype 7 of T. orientalis in crossbred cows, whereas genotype 1 (Chitose B) was found to be present in indigenous bulls. Haplotype network analysis based on the mpsp gene revealed the presence of 39 distinct haplotypes within the 12 defined genotypes of T. orientalis with a high haplotype diversity of 0.9545 ± 0.017. Hematological and biochemical analysis revealed a decrease in calcium, hemoglobin levels, red blood cell counts, and phosphorus. This study constitutes the initial documentation of a clinical outbreak of oriental theileriosis in indigenous bulls with genotype 1 (Chitose 1B). Substantial epidemiological investigations are imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of the geographical distribution of distinct genotypes and the diverse clinical manifestations of the disease across various hosts.

Asunto(s)

Brotes de Enfermedades , Variación Genética , Genotipo , ARN Ribosómico 18S , Theileria , Theileriosis , Animales , Theileria/genética , Theileria/clasificación , Bovinos , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/parasitología , India/epidemiología , Brotes de Enfermedades/veterinaria , ARN Ribosómico 18S/genética , Masculino , ADN Protozoario/genética , Filogenia , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Análisis de Secuencia de ADN , Proteínas Protozoarias/genética , ADN Espaciador Ribosómico/genética , ADN Ribosómico/genética , ADN Ribosómico/química

RESUMEN

Piroplasmosis, a tick-borne disease affecting livestock, including camels, is caused by intracellular apicomplexan parasites belonging to the order Piroplasmida. Despite its importance, there's limited research on piroplasmosis among Egyptian camels. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating tick-borne piroplasmids in camels from Cairo and Giza Governorates. Out of 181 blood samples collected between October 2021 and March 2022 from apparently healthy one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius), PCR assays revealed a 41.4 % infection rate with various piroplasmids. Detected species included B. bovis (17.7 %), B. bigemina (12.2 %), B. caballi (8.3 %), B. naoakii (11.6 %), B. microti (1.7 %), T. equi (4.4 %), and Theileria spp. (28.7 %). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the first detection of T. equi genotype E in Egypt and identified a novel B. caballi genotype. Additionally, B. microti isolates were identified as the US-type. These findings shed lights on piroplasmosis among Egyptian camels, and provide valuable information for devising effective control strategies, especially B. microti, a pathogen with potential human health risks.

Asunto(s)

Babesia , Babesiosis , Camelus , Filogenia , Theileria , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas , Animales , Camelus/parasitología , Egipto/epidemiología , Babesiosis/parasitología , Babesiosis/sangre , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Babesia/genética , Babesia/aislamiento & purificación , Babesia/clasificación , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/parasitología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/veterinaria , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiología , Theileria/genética , Theileria/aislamiento & purificación , Theileria/clasificación , Genotipo , Garrapatas/parasitología , Piroplasmida/genética , Piroplasmida/aislamiento & purificación , Piroplasmida/clasificación , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Theileriosis/parasitología , Theileriosis/epidemiología , Theileriosis/sangre , Masculino