Molecular and Serological Detection of Piroplasms in Horses from Nigeria

Equine piroplasmosis, an economically important disease of equids caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites Theileria equi, T. haneyi, and Babesia caballi, has a worldwide distribution. These parasites are transmitted by ixodid ticks. To improve the detection of horses in Nigeria exposed to piroplasm parasites, 72 horses with variable clinical signs of piroplasmosis were sampled from Northwest and Northcentral Nigeria and tested by nPCR and cELISA. Blood and serum samples were collected from each horse via jugular venesection. Individually, nPCR or cELISA failed to identify all horses exposed to piroplasms. A combination of species-specific nPCR and the OIE-approved T. equi and B. caballi cELISAs enhanced the detection of horses exposed to parasites. The results also demonstrated horses showing abnormal hematology were positive for only T. equi, except for one sample that was coinfected with T. equi and T. haneyi. We also identified ticks collected from some of the horses, with Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi being the most prevalent. This study shows that a larger proportion of horses in the sample set were exposed to T. equi than B. caballi or T. haneyi. Additionally, ticks that have been previously reported as potential vectors for these parasites were found to have infested sampled horses. Further studies are needed to investigate which tick species are competent vectors for Theileria spp. and Babesia caballi in Nigeria.

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Preliminary Serological Investigation on Caprine Arthritis and Encephalitis Virus Infection in a Goat Farm from North-Eastern Romanian Region

Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca Veterinary Medicine ◽

10.15835/buasvmcn-vm:2017.0061 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 75 (2) ◽

pp. 243 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Iuliana MIHAI ◽

Ioana Cristina CRIVEI ◽

Cristina HORHOGEA ◽

Gheorghe SAVUȚA ◽

Elena VELESCU

Keyword(s):

Clinical Signs ◽

Lactation Performance ◽

Dairy Goats ◽

Serum Samples ◽

The North ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Goat Population ◽

North Eastern ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

Important Disease

Caprine arthritis encephalitis is an important disease of dairy goats with a worldwide distribution. Despite the eradication programs, this disease is still prevalent and causing huge financial losses due to reduced lactation performance and culling. The aim of this study was to reveal the presence of CAEV antibodies among a goat population from the North-Eastern of Romania. During 2014-2016, a total of 295 blood samples were collected from healthy or diseased animals. The serum samples were tested for CAEV antibodies detection, using the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test. Within the 295 serum samples tested by AGID technique, 31.86% were confirmed as being positive. All positive samples came from subjects without clinical signs of disease. The results obtained in this preliminary study; show that CAEV is present in French Alpine goats breed within a farm in North-Eastern of Romania.

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Seroprevalence and Risk Factor Associated with Endemicity of Theileria equi Infection in Horses in Rajasthan State, India

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-4325 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rakesh J. Bhojani ◽

Anju Chahar ◽

Vikram S. Dewal ◽

Kruti D. Mandal ◽

Sneh L. Chauhan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Enzymes ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Haemoglobin Concentration ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Infected Horse ◽

Latently Infected ◽

Ajmer District

Background: Equine piroplasmosis is a haemoprtozoan disease of equids and enzootic in Rajasthan prefecture of India. In endemic areas, the subclinical condition is more common, as infected equids recover from the disease and become latently infected. This study aimed to investigate the seroepidemiology and risk factors associated with the endemicity of Theileria equi infection in Rajasthan state. Methods: A cross-sectional study on the seroprevalence of Theileria equi, was performed. Total of 151 serum samples collected from different areas of Rajasthan. The serum samples were screened by ELISA for assessment of seroprevalence of T. equi infection.Result: Overall seroprevalence of T. equi was 49.66%. A total of 75 T. equi seropositive horses were detected and one horse was clinically positive for T. equi infection. The clinical signs observed were - fever, haemoglobinuria, mild colic, anaemia and icteric conjunctival mucous membrane. Theileria equi infection is endemic among horses in Rajasthan state and Ajmer district found the most endemic. Haematological observations in T. equi clinically infected and healthy horses were studies. A decreased haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocytic counts were observed in T. equi infected horse in comparison to healthy horses. This observation showed anaemic condition in T. equi clinically infected equine. An increased concentration of liver enzymes – AST, ALP, GGT in T. equi infected equine was also recorded, which indicated the liver damage.

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Parasites of domestic and wild animals in South Africa. L. Ixodid ticks infesting horses and donkeys

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v84i1.1302 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ivan G. Horak ◽

Heloise Heyne ◽

Ali Halajian ◽

Shalaine Booysen ◽

Willem J. Smit

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Tick Species ◽

Limpopo Province ◽

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Causative Organism ◽

Amblyomma Hebraeum ◽

Babesia Bigemina ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

North West ◽

Rhipicephalus Evertsi Evertsi

The aim of the study was to determine the species spectrum of ixodid ticks that infest horses and donkeys in South Africa and to identify those species that act as vectors of disease to domestic livestock. Ticks were collected opportunistically from 391 horses countrywide by their owners or grooms, or by veterinary students and staff at the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria. Ticks were also collected from 76 donkeys in Limpopo Province, 2 in Gauteng Province and 1 in North West province. All the ticks were identified by means of a stereoscopic microscope. Horses were infested with 17 tick species, 72.1% with Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi, 19.4% with Amblyomma hebraeum and 15.6% with Rhipicephalus decoloratus. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi was recovered from horses in all nine provinces of South Africa and R. decoloratus in eight provinces. Donkeys were infested with eight tick species, and 81.6% were infested with R. evertsi evertsi, 23.7% with A. hebraeum and 10.5% with R. decoloratus. Several tick species collected from the horses and donkeys are the vectors of economically important diseases of livestock. Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi is the vector of Theileria equi, the causative organism of equine piroplasmosis. It also transmits Anaplasma marginale, the causative organism of anaplasmosis in cattle. Amblyomma hebraeum is the vector of Ehrlichia ruminantium, the causative organism of heartwater in cattle, sheep and goats, whereas R. decoloratus transmits Babesia bigemina, the causative organism of babesiosis in cattle.

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Molecular and serological detection of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection in horses and ixodid ticks in Iran

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases ◽

10.1016/j.ttbdis.2013.11.008 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (3) ◽

pp. 239-244 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Vali Abedi ◽

Golamreza Razmi ◽

Hesam Seifi ◽

Abolghasem Naghibi

Keyword(s):

Ixodid Ticks ◽

Serological Detection ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi

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Molecular evidence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in equines and ticks in Nigeria: prevalence and risk factors analysis

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s0031182020000992 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 147 (11) ◽

pp. 1238-1248

Author(s):

ThankGod E. Onyiche ◽

Moeti O. Taioe ◽

Ndudim I. Ogo ◽

Thillaiampalam Sivakumar ◽

Abdullahi A. Biu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Molecular Evidence ◽

Intensive Management ◽

Hyalomma Dromedarii ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Factors Analysis ◽

Rhipicephalus Evertsi Evertsi ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Minimum Infection Rate

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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Serological detection and risk factors for equine piroplasmosis in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612019088 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 685-691 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eline Almeida Rodrigues de Souza ◽

Andreina de Carvalho Araujo ◽

Larissa Célly Souza Regis Pires ◽

Carla Roberta Freschi ◽

Sergio Santos Azevedo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Dna Amplification ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Semiarid Region ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Equine Piroplasmosis ◽

Blood Smears ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Important Disease

Abstract Equine piroplasmosis, an economically important disease in horses, has so far not been reported in Pernambuco state, Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-Babesia caballi and anti-Theileria equi antibodies based on the detection of these agents in equine blood and in ticks on horses in the municipality of Petrolina, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were drawn from 393 horses and sera were examined by ELISA. The presence of tick infestations was evaluated, and 101 ticks were subjected to DNA amplification for the detection of Babesia spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). No parasites were detected in the blood smears. Anti-B. caballi and anti-T. equi antibodies were found in 27.2% (107/393) and 34.8% (137/393) horses, respectively. Infestation by Dermacentor nitens was detected in 4.3% (17/393) of the horses. There was no DNA amplification of the agents in ticks. The risk factors for the presence of anti-T. equi antibodies (P < 0.05) were: purebred (P < 0.001), animals older than 156 months (P = 0.014), and the presence of ticks (P = 0.001). No risk factors for B. caballi were identified. This study confirmed the circulation of agents of equine piroplasmosis in the municipality of Petrolina, state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

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Prevalence and molecular characterization of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in jereed horses in Erzurum, Turkey

Acta Parasitologica ◽

10.1515/ap-2017-0025 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Esin Guven ◽

Hamza Avcioglu ◽

Ahmet Deniz ◽

İbrahim Balkaya ◽

Ugur Abay ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Characterization ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Equine Piroplasmosis ◽

Worldwide Distribution ◽

Tick Borne Disease

AbstractEquine piroplasmosis (EP) is a hemoprotozoan tick-borne disease with worldwide distribution that is caused by

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Genetic diversity of piroplasmids species in equids from island of São Luís, northeastern Brazil

Revista Brasileira de Parasitologia Veterinária ◽

10.1590/s1984-29612017046 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 331-339 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Maria do Socorro Costa de Oliveira Braga ◽

Francisca Neide Costa ◽

Débora Regina Maia Gomes ◽

Daniele Rosa Xavier ◽

Marcos Rogério André ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Diversity ◽

Northeastern Brazil ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Island State ◽

Likelihood Analysis ◽

Tick Borne Disease ◽

Edta Blood

Abstract Equine piroplasmosisis, a tick-borne disease caused by the intra-erythrocytic protozoans Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, has economic importance due to the international trade and the increased movement of horses all over the world. The goal of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of phylogenetic diversity of T. equi and B. caballi genotypes among infected equids from São Luís Island, state of Maranhão, northeastern Brazil. Between December of 2011 and June of 2012, EDTA-blood and serum samples were collected from 139 equids (90 donkeys, 39 horses and 10 mules). From 139 serum samples submitted to ELISA assay, IgG antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi were detected in 19.4% (27/139) and 25.2% (35/139), respectively. Among sampled animals, 21.6% (30/139) and 55.4% (77/139) were positive for cPCR assays for T. equi and B. caballi, based on ema-1 and rap-1 genes, respectively. Overall, the T. equi sequences (n=7) submitted to Maximum Likelihood analysis (based on a 18S rRNA fragment of 1700 bp after alignment) grouped into three main groups, which were subdivided in eight clusters. The present work showed that different genotypes of T. equi and B. caballi circulate among equids in Brazil.

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Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Chilean Thoroughbred Racing Horses

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10060714 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 714

Author(s):

Reinaldo Torres ◽

Claudio Hurtado ◽

Sandra Pérez-Macchi ◽

Pedro Bittencourt ◽

Carla Freschi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Rrna Genes ◽

Serum Samples ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Babesia Caballi ◽

Thoroughbred Horses ◽

18S Rrna Genes ◽

Thoroughbred Racing ◽

First Time ◽

Rhoptry Protein

This study aimed to serologically and molecularly survey Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in thoroughbred horses from racecourses in Chile. Additionally, the genetic diversity of the positive samples was assessed. A total of 286 thoroughbred horses from the Santiago and Valparaíso racecourses had their serum samples submitted to an ELISA for B. caballi and T. equi, and 457 samples (from the Santiago, Valparaíso, and Concepción racecourses) were tested with nested PCRs for the B. caballi 48 KDa rhoptry protein (RAP-1) and T. equi 18S rRNA genes. Selected RAP-1 and 18S positive products were sequenced to perform phylogenetic and haplotype analyses. An overall seroprevalence of 35.6% was observed for these Chilean racecourses: 23.7% for T. equi, 8.4% for B. caballi, and 3.5% for both agents. Overall, a 53.6% occurrence by nPCR was detected for the three Chilean racecourses: 44.2% for T. equi, 5.4% for B. caballi, and 3.9% for both agents. Phylogenetic analysis of T. equi and B. caballi showed genetic proximity with sequences previously detected in other countries. Haplotype analysis revealed a low diversity among the Chilean sequences, which may have originated from those reported in Brazil, Israel, or Cuba. Babesia caballi and T. equi were detected for the first time in Chilean thoroughbred horses.

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