Abstract
BackgroundPiroplasmosis is an important animal disease that is a major constraint to the development of the livestock industry, often resulting in significant economic losses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to further understand the etiology of this and other tick-borne infections.MethodsBlood samples were collected from tick-infested animals from the Chakwal, Jhang, and Faisalabad districts of Punjab, Pakistan and from peri-urban areas around Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China to investigate the presence of Babesia and Theileria species. In total, 450 blood samples were collected with FTA cards from cattle of the study areas of Pakistan; the genomic (g)DNA of one hundred and twenty samples from cattle in Inner Mongolia were provided by the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, China. Following the extraction of gDNA, the 18S rRNA gene (V4 hypervariable region) of piroplasms was amplified in all samples using semi-nested PCR. Positively identified samples were sequenced for the identification of Theileria and Babesia species. The partial full-length sequence of 18S rDNA was amplified for species confirmation of Theileria-positive samples, whereas the RAP-1c gene was amplified for Babesia bigemina-positive samples.ResultsSemi-nested PCR results revealed that 144 (25.26%) samples were positive for piroplasms. Theileria annulata was the most prevalent species (115/144; 20.17%), followed by Theileria orientalis (16/144; 2.80%). Among Babesia, the only species recorded was Babesia bigemina (13/144; 2.28%).ConclusionThe present study reveals new data on the prevalence of piroplasm species in bovine populations of selected areas of China and Pakistan and their phylogenetic relationships. It is also the first detailed report of T. orientalis from native animals in Pakistan.
Highlights
Piroplasmosis is an important animal disease that is a major constraint to the development of the livestock industry, often resulting in significant economic losses
Of the 570 bovine blood samples, 144 (25.26%) samples were positive for piroplasms, showing an approximately 393-bp product band in the agarose gel
The highest prevalence of T. annulata was found in Chakwal (46.80%), followed by Faisalabad (10.75%), Inner Mongolia (10.0%) and Jhang (2.96%)
Summary
Piroplasmosis is an important animal disease that is a major constraint to the development of the livestock industry, often resulting in significant economic losses. Piroplasmosis is one of the most important diseases, constraining the livestock industry in tropical and subtropical areas of the world [2]. It is caused by species of two genera of haemoprotozoa, Theileria and Babesia. Theileria annulata and Theileria parva are considered to be the most pathogenic species, causing theileriosis in cattle and buffalo populations of tropical and subtropical areas, whereas Theileria mutans and Theileria orientalis are responsible for asymptomatic disease [3]. Hard ticks of the genera Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis and Amblyomma are vectors of these Theileria spp., resulting in fatal economic losses in endemic areas of Asia and Africa [4, 5]. Clinical manifestations of theileriosis include: increased body temperature (40–41.5 °C), followed by depression, watery secretion
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
