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

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 714
Author(s):  
Reinaldo Torres ◽  
Claudio Hurtado ◽  
Sandra Pérez-Macchi ◽  
Pedro Bittencourt ◽  
Carla Freschi ◽  
...  

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.

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1414
Author(s):  
Bassma S. M. Elsawy ◽  
Ahmed M. Nassar ◽  
Heba F. Alzan ◽  
Raksha V. Bhoora ◽  
Sezayi Ozubek ◽  
...  

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.


2019 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibel Gür ◽  
Bünyamin İrehan ◽  
Metin Gürçay ◽  
Turhan Turan

Equine arteritis virus is classified in the Arteriviridae family and causes reproductive and respiratory disorders. The host spectrum includes many species of the Equidae family. Horses, donkeys and mules are the most sensitive species. The infection was serologically investigated in adult donkeys on small private family type enterprises in eastern and south-eastern Anatolia in this study. A total of 1,532 samples were collected from 28 different locations in 6 different provinces in these two regions. The number of donkeys sampled from each farm was between 1 and 3. Serum samples were tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). As a result of sero-controls, 53 animals were positive (3.45%). The presence of infection was determined in all the provinces; Elazığ (7%, 17/241), Tunceli (2.4%, 3/122), Van (2.9%, 10/342), Bitlis (4.6%, 5/107), Şırnak (2.7%, 12/440) and Siirt (2.1%, 6/280). Seropositivity was detected in 22 of the 28 locations. In this study, data were obtained from a significant number of animals for the first time in these regions. Although the values were not high, the findings revealed the presence of infection in the majority of the investigated sites. Despite the fact that the incidence was not high in donkeys probably due to restricted management conditions, the incidence may increase over time and may pose a risk for thoroughbred horses unless necessary measures are taken.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 528-532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinming Wang ◽  
Junlong Liu ◽  
Jifei Yang ◽  
Xiaoxing Wang ◽  
Zhi Li ◽  
...  

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 508
Author(s):  
Idoko S. Idoko ◽  
Richard E. Edeh ◽  
Andrew M. Adamu ◽  
Salamatu Machunga-Mambula ◽  
Oluyinka O. Okubanjo ◽  
...  

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.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1637
Author(s):  
Maria Jenckel ◽  
Ina Smith ◽  
Tegan King ◽  
Peter West ◽  
Patrick L. Taggart ◽  
...  

In 2020, Hepatitis E virus (HEV) was detected for the first time in Australian rabbits. To improve our understanding of the genetic diversity and distribution of the virus, 1635 rabbit liver samples from locations across Australia were screened via RT-qPCR for HEV. HEV genomes were amplified and sequenced from 48 positive samples. Furthermore, we tested 380 serum samples from 11 locations across Australia for antibodies against HEV. HEV was detected in rabbits from all states and territories, except the Northern Territory. Seroprevalence varied between locations (from 0% to 22%), demonstrating that HEV is widely distributed in rabbit populations across Australia. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Australian HEV sequences are genetically diverse and that HEV was likely introduced into Australia independently on several occasions. In summary, this study broadens our understanding of the genetic diversity of rabbit HEV globally and shows that the virus is endemic in both domestic and wild rabbit populations in Australia.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Lutz ◽  
Lori A. Ziolkowski ◽  
Liane G. Benning

Cryoconite holes are oases of microbial diversity on ice surfaces. In contrast to the Arctic, where during the summer most cryoconite holes are ‘open’, in Continental Antarctica they are most often ‘lidded’ or completely frozen year-round. Thus, they represent ideal systems for the study of microbial community assemblies as well as carbon accumulation, since individual cryoconite holes can be isolated from external inputs for years. Here, we use high-throughput sequencing of the 16S and 18S rRNA genes to describe the bacterial and eukaryotic community compositions in cryoconite holes and surrounding lake, snow, soil and rock samples in Queen Maud Land. We cross correlate our findings with a broad range of geochemical data including for the first time 13C and 14C analyses of Antarctic cryoconites. We show that the geographic location has a larger effect on the distribution of the bacterial community compared to the eukaryotic community. Cryoconite holes are distinct from the local soils in both 13C and 14C and their isotopic composition is different from similar samples from the Arctic. Carbon contents were generally low (≤0.2%) and older (6–10 ky) than the surrounding soils, suggesting that the cryoconite holes are much more isolated from the atmosphere than the soils.


2020 ◽  
Vol 187 (11) ◽  
pp. e97-e97
Author(s):  
Robert M Coultous ◽  
Desmond P Leadon ◽  
Brian R Shiels ◽  
David Sutton ◽  
William Weir

BackgroundEquine piroplasmosis (EP) is a notifiable disease in Ireland and a significant concern to domestic and international equine industries. Information regarding EP presence in Ireland is currently limited. This retrospective surveillance study describes a serological and molecular analysis of blood samples submitted to the Irish Equine Centre for EP testing between January 2013 and April 2016.MethodsFollowing serological testing, seropositive samples were screened using a PCR targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA gene. Amplicon sequences were bioinformatically analysed to identify the parasite species and to assess genetic diversity.ResultsFrom 2099 screened equine blood samples, 2.5 per cent and 1 per cent were seropositive for Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, respectively. T equi DNA was detected in 9 per cent of the seropositive samples while B caballi DNA was not detected in any sample. The T equi DNA sequences displayed no genetic diversity at this locus, in contrast to samples from the UK and from endemic areas.ConclusionDetection of EP-seropositive and parasitaemic horses in Ireland indicates a clear and present health risk to the equine population. It is recommended that owners adopt appropriate biosecurity measures and that clinicians are mindful of this disease as a differential diagnosis.


2005 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 2605-2621 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie von der Heyden ◽  
Thomas Cavalier-Smith

Bodonid flagellates (class Kinetoplastea) are abundant, free-living protozoa in freshwater, soil and marine habitats, with undersampled global biodiversity. To investigate overall bodonid diversity, kinetoplastid-specific PCR primers were used to amplify and sequence 18S rRNA genes from DNA extracted from 16 diverse environmental samples; of 39 different kinetoplastid sequences, 35 belong to the subclass Metakinetoplastina, where most group with the genus Neobodo or the species Bodo saltans, whilst four group with the subclass Prokinetoplastina (Ichthyobodo). To study divergence between freshwater and marine members of the genus Neobodo, 26 new Neobodo designis strains were cultured and their 18S rRNA genes were sequenced. It is shown that the morphospecies N. designis is a remarkably ancient species complex with a major marine clade nested among older freshwater clades, suggesting that these lineages were constrained physiologically from moving between these environments for most of their long history. Other major bodonid clades show less-deep separation between marine and freshwater strains, but have extensive genetic diversity within all lineages and an apparently biogeographically distinct distribution of B. saltans subclades. Clade-specific 18S rRNA gene primers were used for two N. designis subclades to test their global distribution and genetic diversity. The non-overlap between environmental DNA sequences and those from cultures suggests that there are hundreds, possibly thousands, of different rRNA gene sequences of free-living bodonids globally.


2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 331-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria do Socorro Costa de Oliveira Braga ◽  
Francisca Neide Costa ◽  
Débora Regina Maia Gomes ◽  
Daniele Rosa Xavier ◽  
Marcos Rogério André ◽  
...  

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.


Nematology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. 1019-1045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Reza Atighi ◽  
Ebrahim Pourjam ◽  
Razieh Ghaemi ◽  
Majid Pedram ◽  
Gracia Liébanas ◽  
...  

Rotylenchus arasbaranensis n. sp., a new monosexual species is described and illustrated based on morphological, morphometric and molecular studies. The new species is characterised by having an offset and hemispherical lip region with 5-6 annuli, 32-36 μm long stylet, vulva located at 43.9-59.2% with a single epiptygma and rounded tail, rarely bilobed, with 6-8 annuli. The species R. striaticeps and the male of R. buxophilus are reported for the first time from Iran and R. fragaricus is reported and studied for the second time after its original description. The results of the phylogenetic analyses based on the sequences of the D2-D3 expansion region of the 28S, ITS1-rRNA and the partial 18S rRNA genes were provided for the studied species, confirming their differences from each other and determining the position of them and their relationships with closely related taxa. Also, the validity of Plesiorotylenchus is discussed on the basis of molecular data and its synonymisation (with only one sequence) with Rotylenchus is accepted.


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