Sequence heterogeneity in the 18S rRNA gene within Theileria equi and Babesia caballi from horses in South Africa

Importation of tick-infected animals and the uncontrollable migration of birds and wild animals across borders can lead to geographical expansion and redistribution of ticks and pathogen vectors, thus leading to the emergence and re-emergence of tick-borne diseases in humans and animals. Comparatively, little is known about the occurrence of piroplasms in ixodid ticks in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, thus necessitating this study, which is aimed at detecting piroplasms (Theileria and Babesia) from feeding tick samples collected from cattle, sheep, and goats in selected sites in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. A total of 1200 feeding ixodid ticks collected from farm animals at selected homesteads were first subjected to molecular identification using mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene by PCR and were further tested for the presence of piroplasms through amplification of the 18S rRNA gene via nested-PCR followed by sequencing of the PCR products. The results indicated that 853 (71.1%) corresponded to the genus Rhipicephalus, 335 (27.9%) corresponded to genus Amblyomma, and 12 (1%) corresponded to genus Haemaphysalis. Amblyomma hebraeum and Rhipicephalus appendiculatus were the most common identified ticks from this study. The 18S rRNA nested-PCR revealed that 44 (3.7%) samples were confirmed positive for Theileria. A homology search for the generated sequences revealed a high percentage identity of 98–98.9% similarity to T. buffeli, T. orientalis, and T. sergenti in the GenBank. Based on the results obtained herein, we conclude that there is a big diversity of Theileria species; therefore, we suggest that this research should cover more geographical areas in order to reveal the true prevalence of this pathogen in the studied area because this will be a great step in the possible prevention of an outbreak that could have devastating effects on livestock production and human health in both the studied areas and South Africa at large.

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Rapid Detection of Equine Piroplasms Using Multiplex PCR and First Genetic Characterization of Theileria haneyi in Egypt

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10111414 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1414

Author(s):

Bassma S. M. Elsawy ◽

Ahmed M. Nassar ◽

Heba F. Alzan ◽

Raksha V. Bhoora ◽

Sezayi Ozubek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multiplex Pcr ◽

Genetic Characterization ◽

Simultaneous Detection ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Pcr Targeting ◽

First Time

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and the recently identified species T. haneyi. Hereby, we used a multiplex PCR (mPCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi and B. caballi for the simultaneous detection of EP in Egyptian equids and examined the presence of T. haneyi infections in Egypt. Blood samples from 155 equids (79 horses and 76 donkeys) collected from different governorates of Egypt were examined by mPCR and PCR targeting T. hayeni. The mPCR method revealed a prevalence of T. equi of 20.3% in horses and of 13.1% in donkeys and a prevalence of B. caballi of 1.2% in horses. B. caballi was not detected in donkeys in the current study. The mPCR method also detected coinfections with both species (2.5% and 1.3% in horses and donkeys, respectively). Additionally, we report the presence of T. haneyi in Egypt for the first time in 53.1% of the horse and 38.1% of the donkey tested samples. Coinfection with T. haneyi and T. equi was found in 13.5% of the samples, while infection with the three EP species was found in 1.9% of the samples.

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Genetic Diversity of Theileria equi from Horses in Different Regions of Brazil Based on the 18S rRNA Gene

Journal of Parasitology ◽

10.1645/18-34 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 105 (1) ◽

pp. 186 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Gabriela L. V. Vitari ◽

Renata L. Costa ◽

Ana Paula M. Abreu ◽

Maristela Peckle ◽

Claudia B. Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

18S Rrna ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Theileria Equi

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Diversity and distribution of nematodes associated with terrestrial slugs in the Western Cape Province of South Africa

Journal of Helminthology ◽

10.1017/s0022149x11000277 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 86 (2) ◽

pp. 215-221 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

J.L. Ross ◽

E.S. Ivanova ◽

W.F. Sirgel ◽

A.P. Malan ◽

M.J. Wilson

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

18S Rrna ◽

Parasitic Nematode ◽

Gene Sequencing ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Western Cape ◽

Western Cape Province ◽

Rrna Gene Sequencing ◽

Three New Species

AbstractA survey of nematodes associated with native and introduced species of terrestrial slugs was conducted in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, in order to gather new data regarding diversity and distribution. A total of 521 terrestrial slugs were collected from 35 localities throughout the Western Cape. All slugs were dissected and examined for the presence of internal nematodes. Extracted nematodes were identified using a combination of molecular (18S rRNA gene sequencing) and morphological techniques. Nematodes were found parasitizing slugs at 14 of the 35 sites examined, amounting to 40% of sample sites. Of all slugs, 6% were infected with nematodes. A total of seven species of nematode were identified in the province, includingAgfa flexilis,Angiostomasp.,Phasmarhabditissp. SA1,Phasmarhabditissp. SA2,Caenorhabditis elegans,Panagrolaimussp. andRhabditissp. Of these species, four were thought to be parasitic to slugs (A. flexilis, Angiostomasp.,Phasmarhabditissp. SA1 andPhasmarhabditissp. SA2), as opposed to forming necromenic or phoretic associations. Three new species of slug-parasitic nematode were identified during this study (Angiostomasp.,Phasmarhabditissp. SA1 andPhasmarhabditissp. SA2).

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Phylogenetic analysis, genetic diversity and geographical distribution of Babesia caballi based on 18S rRNA gene

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101776 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101776

Author(s):

Anil Kumar Nehra ◽

Ansu Kumari ◽

Aman Dev Moudgil ◽

Sukhdeep Vohra

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

18S Rrna ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Babesia Caballi

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Molecular Investigation and Genotyping of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Horses in Mus Province, Turkey

Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society ◽

10.12681/jhvms.25932 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 71 (4) ◽

pp. 2531

Author(s):

B. OGUZ ◽

N. ÖZDAL ◽

M.S. DEGER ◽

K. BICEK

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

The United States ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Equine Piroplasmosis

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi of the phylum Apicomplexa. In this study, 102 blood samples were randomly collected from the horses in Mus province of Turkey. PCR analysis, gene sequences, and phylogenetic analyses were carried out for detecting the presence and genotypic characteristics of species that cause piroplasmosis. Four (3.9%) of the 102 horses that were examined were found to be positive for T. equi, while B. caballi was not detected. Theileria equi isolates that were detected in the sequence analyses were found to be 100% identical to the isolates that were isolated from the horses in Turkey, the United States, and South Africa as well. In the phylogenetic analysis, all of the isolates were found to cluster with T. equi sequences in the genotype A. This study, in which we revealed intraspecies sequence heterogeneity of the parasite using the 18S rRNA gene region, provides important epidemiological data for equine piroplasmosis. However, we think that determining the characterization of genotypes that are common in different parts of our country is extremely important in terms of developing new diagnostic tools and vaccines.

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Natural hosts of the larvae of Nuttalliella sp. (N. namaqua?) (Acari: Nuttalliellidae)

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v79i1.405 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ivan G. Horak ◽

Heike Lutermann ◽

Katarina Medger ◽

Dmitry A. Apanaskevich ◽

Conrad A. Matthee

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Genomic Dna ◽

18S Rrna ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Natural Hosts ◽

Murid Rodents ◽

Northern Cape

The first collection of unengorged and fully engorged larvae of Nuttalliella sp. (N. namaqua?) from the murid rodents Micaelamys namaquensis, Aethomys chrysophilus and Acomys spinosissimus in Limpopo Province and from M. namaquensis in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa, is documented. A total of nine larvae were collected from two M. namaquensis in the Soutpansberg mountain range in the Limpopo Province during April 2009. During the last week of September 2011, 221 larvae were collected from rodents at the same locality and 10 of 48 M. namaquensis, 6 of 12 Ae. chrysophilus and 3 of 14 Ac. spinosissimus were infested. One of the M. namaquensis harboured 53 larvae. Five larvae were collected from two M. namaquensis in the Northern Cape Province. Total genomic DNA was extracted from two larvae and a region of the 18S rRNA gene was sequenced for these. BLASTn searches revealed similarity between these specimens and the Nuttalliella sequences published on GenBank.

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Molecular and serological detection of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses and ticks in Maranhão, Brazil

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-736x2017001200010 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 37 (12) ◽

pp. 1416-1422 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Rita de Maria Seabra Nogueira ◽

Arannadia Barbosa Silva ◽

Tayra Pereira Sato ◽

Joicy Cortez de Sá ◽

Ana Clara Gomes dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Anaplasma Phagocytophilum ◽

Animal Health ◽

Antibody Test ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Boophilus Microplus ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Blood Samples

ABSTRACT: Equine piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the intraeytrhocytic protozoans Babesia caballi and Theileria equi. It has been reported as a main equine parasitic disease. In addition, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the causative agent of granulocytic ehrlichiosis, causes a seasonal disease in horses. Both diseases, can be detrimental to animal health. In this sense, blood samples and ticks were collected from 97 horses raised in the microregion of Baixada Maranhense, Maranhão State, Brazil. Serum samples were subjected to Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT) and blood samples and ticks to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to evaluate the infection by Theileria equi, Babesia caballi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The overall seroprevalence was 38.14%, 18.55% and 11.34% for T. equi, B. caballi and A. phagocytophilum, respectively. The results of PCR from blood samples showed 13.40% and 3.09% positive samples to T. equi and B. caballi, respectively. A total of 170 tick specimens were collected and identified as Dermacentor nitens, Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. It was detected 2.35% (4/170) and 0.59% (1/170) positive tick samples by PCR for T. equi and B. caballi, respectively. All samples were negative to A. phagocytophilum. No statically difference (p>0.05) was observed when gender, age, use of ectoparasiticide and tick presence were analyzed. A BLASTn analysis of the sequenced samples indicated 97 to 100% similarity with T. equi 18S rRNA gene sequences in GenBank and 98 to 100% with B. caballi. Genetic analysis classified the obtained sequences as T. equi and B. caballi cluster, respectively. It can be concluded that these pathogens occur and are circulating in the studied area.

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