Molecular evidence for transplacental transmission of Theileria equi from carrier mares to their apparently healthy foals

AbstractBabesia caballi and Theileria equi are biological agents responsible for equine piroplasmosis (EP). We conducted a robust and extensive epidemiological study in Nigeria on the prevalence and risk factors of EP. Blood (468, both horses and donkeys) and ticks (201 pools) were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA of equine piroplasms was observed in tick pools with B. caballi amplified in Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi only [minimum infection rate (MIR) of 7.6%] while T. equi was observed in R. e. evertsi (MIR, 61.6%), Hyalomma dromedarii (MIR, 23.7%) and H. truncatum (MIR, 50.0%). Overall results showed that 196/468 (41.9%) animals were positive for equine piroplasms (both B. caballi and T. equi). The prevalence for T. equi was 189/468 (40.4%) compared to 7/468 (1.5%) for B. caballi. In the horses and donkeys, respectively, the prevalence for T. equi was (39.9%; 112/281) and (41.2%; 77/187) compared with (1.4%; 4/281) and (1.6%; 3/187) due to B. caballi. Our analysis showed that location (Jigawa state), Talon breed, horses used for work and reproduction, unsatisfactory husbandry practices, contact with other mammals are risk factors that associated positivity to T. equi infection in horses, whilst horses kept on intensive management appeared to be less prone to infection. On the other hand, Jangora breed of donkeys and location (Jigawa state) are risk factors to infection with T. equi in donkeys. Findings suggest the persistence of EP in equids and ticks in Nigeria.

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First molecular evidence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Cuba

Parasitology Research ◽

10.1007/s00436-018-6005-5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 117 (10) ◽

pp. 3109-3118 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Adrian Alberto Díaz-Sánchez ◽

Marcus Sandes Pires ◽

Carlos Yrurzun Estrada ◽

Ernesto Vega Cañizares ◽

Sergio Luis del Castillo Domínguez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Evidence ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi

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Molecular evidence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Theileria equi coinfection in horses from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Veterinary and Animal Science ◽

10.1016/j.vas.2019.100055 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 ◽

pp. 100055

Author(s):

Tiago Marques dos Santos ◽

Erica Cristina Rocha Roier ◽

Marcus Sandes Pires ◽

Huarrisson Azevedo Santos ◽

Joice Aparecida Rezende Vilela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Rio De Janeiro ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Theileria Equi

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Transplacental Transmission of Theileria equi Is Not a Common Cause of Abortions and Infection of Foals in Israel

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10020341 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 341 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sharon Tirosh-Levy ◽

Yuval Gottlieb ◽

Lea Mimoun ◽

Monica L. Mazuz ◽

Amir Steinman

Keyword(s):

Antibody Test ◽

Transplacental Transmission ◽

Tick Feeding ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

Route Of Transmission ◽

Immunofluorescence Antibody Test ◽

High Parasitemia ◽

Immunofluorescence Antibody

Although the main route of transmission of Theileria equi is through tick feeding, transplacental transmission is also possible and may lead to abortion, or to the birth of a sick or carrier foal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of T. equi as a cause of abortions in Israel and the risk of foals being infected at a young age. Eight aborting mares were serologically evaluated for exposure to T. equi via the immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and their aborted fetuses were evaluated using PCR and qPCR. In addition, five mares and their foals (aged 4–6 months) from a highly endemic farm were tested for T. equi infection using IFAT, PCR and qPCR. Five of the eight aborting mares were seropositive for T. equi; however, none of the aborted fetuses was infected. All five mares from the endemic farm were subclinically infected with T. equi. Of their five foals, one was infected, with relatively high parasitemia and different parasite genotype than its dam’s, suggesting another source of infection. The results of this study suggest that transplacental transmission of T. equi is not common and does not appear to be a prominent cause of abortion in chronically infected mares.

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Transplacental transmission of Theileria equi in mules: Should we worry?

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.10.017 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 264 ◽

pp. 39-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rafael Françoso ◽

Amanda Vallone Riccio ◽

Claudia Barbosa Fernandes ◽

Maria Augusta Alonso ◽

Carla Bargi Belli

Keyword(s):

Transplacental Transmission ◽

Theileria Equi

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Seroepidemiology of human toxoplasmosis in Chile

Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo ◽

10.1590/s0036-46651996000600008 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 38 (6) ◽

pp. 431-435 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Maria del C. Contreras ◽

Hugo Schenone ◽

Patricia Salinas ◽

Lea Sandoval ◽

Antonio Rojas ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Donors ◽

Total Population ◽

Progressive Increase ◽

Transplacental Transmission ◽

Healthy Individuals ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Different Types ◽

Indirect Hemagglutination ◽

Indirect Hemagglutination Test ◽

Apparently Healthy

A series of already published and unpublished seroepidemiological surveys for toxoplasmosis, carried out in Chile in 1982-1994, is reviewed, expanded and analyzed. The surveys included 76,317 apparently healthy individuals of different ages (0.57% of the country's total population), from 309 urban and rural-periurban localities. Urban groups were integrated by blood donors, delivering mothers and middle grade schoolchildren, while rural-periurban individuals corresponded to unselected family groups. Blood samples were collected in filter paper. The presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii was determined by the indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT), titers > 16 were considered positive. The test resulted positive in 28,124 (36.9%) of the surveyed people. Two hundred and six (0.3%) individuals presented IHAT titers > 1000, probably corresponding to acute or reactivated infections. A progressive increase of positive IHAT from northern to southern regions of the country was noted, phenomenom probably related to geographical conditions and to a higher production and consumption of different types of meat in the latter regions. It is postulated that ingestion of T. gondii cysts by humans is epidemiologically as important as ingestion of oocysts. The results presented stress the epidemiological importance of toxoplasmosis in humans, and warn about eventual implications in immunocompromised patients and in transplacental transmission, organ transplants and transfusions.

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