Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of Theileria equi in Iranian dromedaries

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract

Considering the importance of Theileria equi infection in horse breeding industry and marketing, in the present study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of T. equi among dromedaries in central Iran, where a considerable number of camels and horses are raised and equine theileriosis is quite prevalent. For this purpose, a total of 161 blood samples from camels were examined in terms of T. equi infection, using parasitological and molecular methods. For molecular detection of T. equi, primers targeting the 18S rRNA gene were selected. Microscopic examination revealed that 0.6% of camels were positive for the intraerythrocytic stage of Theileria species, while polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method detected T. equi in 7 (4.3%) out of 161 camels. Sequences of 18S rRNAs from all the isolates showed more than 99% homology to each other and T. equi isolates in the GenBank. With respect to the single-nucleotide substitution in 18S rRNA gene of the studied camels, three different genotypes were identified and submitted to the GenBank. Considering the homology between 18S rRNA sequences of T. equi in the studied samples and those available in the GenBank, the phylogenetic tree formed three distinct, but highly-related clusters. In this study, age, gender, and locality were not determined as risk factors for T. equi infection in camels. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that T. equi is present among Iranian camels.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [French]

Prévalence et analyse phylogénétique de Theileria equi infectant les dromadaires iraniens

Abstract [French]

Etant donnée l’importance des infections causées par Theileria equi dans l’industrie et le marché des chevaux d’élevages, l’objectif de cette étude était de déterminer la prévalence de T. equi chez les dromadaires du centre de l’Iran. Cette région, où les élevages de camélidés et de chevaux sont abondants, est aujourd’hui particulièrement touchée par la theilériose équine. Dans cette étude, la présence d’infection au T. equi a été examinée sur un total de 161 prélèvements sanguins de dromadaires un utilisant des méthodes de parasitologie et moléculaires. Pour la détection moléculaire de T. equi, des amorces visant la séquence du gène 18S de l’ARNr ont été sélectionnées. Alors que nos observations microscopiques indiquaient une contamination au Theileria spp. en phase intraérythrocytaire pour 0.6% des dromadaires, nos analyses moléculaires par PCR nous ont permis de détecter 7 cas (4,3%) d’infection à T. equi sur les 161 échantillons testés. Les séquences du gène 18S de l’ARNr de tous les isolats détectés et celles des isolats de T. equi répertoriées dans GenBank étaient homologues à plus de 99%. Trois génotypes différents ont été identifiés et annotés dans GenBank selon leurs substituions nucléotidiques uniques sur la séquence 18S de l’ARNr. Etant donnée la forte homologie entre les séquences 18S de l’ARNr des isolats de T. equi identifiés dans nos échantillons et celles disponibles dans GenBank, ces génotypes constituent trois groupes distincts, mais étroitement liés dans l’arbre phylogénétique. De plus, cette étude montre que l’âge, le sexe et la localité des dromadaires n’influent pas sur le risque d’infection au T. equi. En conclusion, nos analyses ont révélé la présence d’infections au T. equi chez les dromadaires iraniens.

Keywords [French]

  • Theileria equi
  • dromadaire
  • Réaction en chaîne de la polymérase
  • Analyse phylogénétique
  • Yazd

References

Abedi, V., Razmi, G., Seifi, H., Naghibi, A., 2014. Molecular and serological detection of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection in horses and ixodid ticks in Iran. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 5, 239-244.
Acici, M., Umur, S., Guvenc, T., Arslan, H.H., Kurt, M., 2008. Seroprevalence of equine babesiosis in the Black Sea region of Turkey. Parasitol Int 57, 198-200.
Alhassan, A., Govind, Y., Tam, N.T., Thekisoe, O.M., Yokoyama, N., Inoue, N., Igarashi, I., 2007. Comparative evaluation of the sensitivity of LAMP, PCR and in vitro culture methods for the diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis. Parasitol Res 100, 1165-1168.
Alhassan, A., Pumidonming, W., Okamura, M., Hirata, H., Battsetseg, B., Fujisaki, K., Yokoyama, N., Igarashi, I., 2005. Development of a single-round and multiplex PCR method for the simultaneous detection of Babesia caballi and Babesia equi in horse blood. Vet Parasitol 129, 43-49.
Apanaskevich, D.A., Schuster, A.L., Horak, I.G., 2008. The Genus Hyalomma: VII. Redescription of all Parasitic Stages of H. (Euhyalomma) dromedarii and H. (E.) schulzei (Acari: Ixodidae). Journal of Medical Entomology 45, 817-831.
Avarzed, A., Igarashi, I., Kanemaru, T., Hirumi, K., Omata, Y., Saito, A., Oyamada, T., Nagasawa, H., Toyoda, Y., Suzuki, N., 1997. Improved in vitro cultivation of Babesia caballi. J Vet Med Sci 59, 479-481.
Bahrami, S., Ghadrdan, A.R., Mirabdollahi, S.M., Fayed, M.R., 2014a. Diagnosis of subclinical equine theileriosis in center of Iran using parasitological and molecular methods. Trop Biomed 31, 110-117.
Bahrami, S., Ghadrdan, A.R., Pourmahdi, M., Salarpour, M.V., 2014b. Epidemiology of Theileria equi in Persian Arab horses from Iran. Veterinarni Medicina 59, 409-414.
Beck, R., Vojta, L., Mrljak, V., Marinculic, A., Beck, A., Zivicnjak, T., Caccio, S.M., 2009. Diversity of Babesia and Theileria species in symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs in Croatia. Int J Parasitol 39, 843-848.
Boid, R., Jones, T.W., Luckins, A.G., 1985. 3. Protozoal diseases of camels. British Veterinary Journal 141, 87-105.
Bukachi, S.A., Chemuliti, J.K., Njiru, Z.K., 2003. Constrains experienced in the introduction of camels in tsetse fly infested areas: the case of Kajiado District, Kenya. Journal of Camel Practice and Research 10 145–148.
Criado-Fornelio, A., Martinez-Marcos, A., Buling-Saraña, A., Barba-Carretero, J.C., 2003. Molecular studies on Babesia, Theileria and Hepatozoon in southern Europe: Part I. Epizootiological aspects. Veterinary Parasitology 113, 189-201.
de Waal, D.T., 1992. Equine piroplasmosis: A review. British Veterinary Journal 148, 6-14.
Egbe-Nwiyi, T.N., 1994. Haematological and pathological studies of camel babesiosis in Nigeria. Bulletin of Animal Health and Production in Africa 42, 287–290.
El-Rabie, Y., Amr, Z.S., Hyland, K.E., 1990. Observations on the ixodid ticks associated with domestic ungulate animals in Jordan. Zoology in the Middle East 4, 85-92.
Fritz, D., 2010. A PCR study of piroplasms in 166 dogs and 111 horses in France (March 2006 to March 2008). Parasitol Res 106, 1339-1342.
Garcia-Bocanegra, I., Arenas-Montes, A., Hernandez, E., Adaszek, L., Carbonero, A., Almeria, S., Jaen-Tellez, J.A., Gutierrez-Palomino, P., Arenas, A., 2013. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infection in equids. Vet J 195, 172-178.
Heim, A., Passos, L.M., Ribeiro, M.F., Costa-Junior, L.M., Bastos, C.V., Cabral, D.D., Hirzmann, J., Pfister, K., 2007. Detection and molecular characterization of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi isolates from endemic areas of Brazil. Parasitol Res 102, 63-68.
Karatepe, B., Karatepe, M., Cakmak, A., Karaer, Z., Ergun, G., 2009. Investigation of seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in Nigde province, Turkey. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 109-113.
Kouam, M.K., Kantzoura, V., Gajadhar, A.A., Theis, J.H., Papadopoulos, E., Theodoropoulos, G., 2010. Seroprevalence of equine piroplasms and host-related factors associated with infection in Greece. Vet Parasitol 169, 273-278.
Leemans, I., Brown, D., Fossum, C., Hooshmand-Rad, P., Kirvar, E., Wilkie, G., Uggla, A., 1999. Infectivity and cross-immunity studies of Theileria lestoquardi and Theileria annulata in sheep and cattle: II. In vitro studies. Veterinary Parasitology 82, 193-204.
Moretti, A., Mangili, V., Salvatori, R., Maresca, C., Scoccia, E., Torina, A., Moretta, I., Gabrielli, S., Tampieri, M.P., Pietrobelli, M., 2010. Prevalence and diagnosis of Babesia and Theileria infections in horses in Italy: a preliminary study. Vet J 184, 346-350.
Mujica, F.F., Perrone, T., Forlano, M., Coronado, A., Melendez, R.D., Barrios, N., Alvarez, R., Granda, F., 2011. Serological prevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in horses of Lara State, Venezuela. Vet Parasitol 178, 180-183.
Posnett, E.S., Ambrosio, R.E., 1991. DNA probes for the detection of Babesia caballi. Parasitology 102, 357-365.
Posnett, E.S., Fehrsen, J., De Waal, D.T., Ambrosio, R.E., 1991. Detection of Babesia equi in infected horses and carrier animals using a DNA probe. Veterinary Parasitology 39, 19-32.
Qablan, M.A., Kubelova, M., Siroky, P., Modry, D., Amr, Z.S., 2012a. Stray dogs of northern Jordan as reservoirs of ticks and tick-borne hemopathogens. Parasitol Res 111, 301-307.
Qablan, M.A., Sloboda, M., Jirku, M., Obornik, M., Dwairi, S., Amr, Z.S., Horin, P., Lukes, J., Modry, D., 2012b. Quest for the piroplasms in camels: identification of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Jordanian dromedaries by PCR. Vet Parasitol 186, 456-460.
Rao, J.R., Mishra, A.K., Sharma, N.N., Kalicharan Prasad, M.C., 1988. Biochemical studies on sera of camels (Camelus dromedarius) naturally infected with Theileria dromedarii n. sp. Riv. Parasitology 49, 63–66.
Ruegg, S.R., Torgerson, P., Deplazes, P., Mathis, A., 2007. Age-dependent dynamics of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in southwest Mongolia based on IFAT and/or PCR prevalence data from domestic horses and ticks. Parasitology 134, 939-947.
Salim, B.O., Hassan, S.M., Bakheit, M.A., Alhassan, A., Igarashi, I., Karanis, P., Abdelrahman, M.B., 2008. Diagnosis of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Sudan using ELISA and PCR. Parasitol Res 103, 1145-1150.
Sevinc, F., Maden, M., Kumas, C., Sevinc, M., Ekici, O.D., 2008. A comparative study on the prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in horse sub-populations in Turkey. Vet Parasitol 156, 173-177.
Sigg, L., Gerber, V., Gottstein, B., Doherr, M.G., Frey, C.F., 2010. Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in the Swiss horse population. Parasitol Int 59, 313-317.
Uilenberg, G., 2006. Babesia--a historical overview. Vet Parasitol 138, 3-10.
Walker, J.B., Keirans, J.E., Horak, I.G., 2005. The Genus Rhipicephalus (Acari, Ixodidae): A Guide to the Brown Ticks of the World, Cambridge University Press.
Yakimoff, W.L., Schokhor, N.I., Kosel-Kine, P.M., 1917. In Maladies animals du Turkestan russe a parasites endoglobulaires. Bulletin de la Societe de Pathologie Exotique 10, 303–309.
Archives of Razi Institute
Volume 71, Issue 3
September and October 2016
Pages 169-175

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics