Detection of Theileria annulata by the PCR-RFLP in ticks (Acari, Ixodidae) collected from cattle in West and North-West Iran

Abstract

The presence of potential vectors, ticks, and susceptible hosts of bovine malignant theileriosis in all parts of Iran pose a real threat to food animal industry. The present study was conducted to determine the infection rate of ticks collected from naturally occurring bovine theileriosis in West and North-West Iran. Two hundred and thirty seven cattle suspected of suffering from theileriosis were investigated for the presence of Theileria annulata in the blood smears and any tick species on their body. In this study, 402 ticks were obtained from 99 cattle. The examination of 402 ticks by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers derived from the gene encoding heat shock protein70 (Hsp70) revealed that 39.9% of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, 3.5% of H. asiaticum asiaticum, and 18.2% H. anatolicum excavatum, were infected with T. annulata. The results suggest that H. a. anatolicum may play a major role in transmission of T. annulata infection in Iran. Finally, digestion of the PCR products of T. annulata with two different restriction enzymes produced only a single pattern.

Survey on infection rate, vectors and molecular identification of Theileria annulata in cattle from North West, Iran

“…The prevalence of T. annulata infestation was higher in H. anatolicum anatulicum, than H. anatulicum excavatum and H. asiaticum asiaticum. Our finding in harmony with findings of other researchers (Aktas et al 2004;Azizi and Yakhchali 2006;Tavassoli et al 2011), pointing out that H. anatulicum anatolicum is the most frequent tick species present in West and North West Iran and in East Turkey.…”

“…The role of the sex of the tick in Theileria transmission has previously been emphasized and it has been reported that both the prevalence and the intensity of Theileria infection were significantly higher in female ticks than in male ticks (Sangwan et al 1989;Sayin et al 2003;Tavassoli et al 2011). It has been noted that female ticks play a more important role in the transmission of Theileria infection (Pipano et al 1982).…”

“…Azizi et al (2008) reported the positive infection rate of 140 carrier cattle was 40 % by PCR and only 8.1 % by Giemsa staining method. In another study in Egypt, Mahmmod et al (2010) Tavassoli et al (2011), a number of Hyalomma species such as H. anatulicum anatulicum, H. asiaticum asiaticum, H. implanatum, H. detritum, H. anatulicum excavatum, and other tick spices such as Rhipicephalus spp., Hemaphysalis spp. and D. marginatus have been isolated from cattle in West and North West Iran.…”

Detection of Theileria annulata in blood samples of native cattle by PCR and smear method in Southeast of Iran

“…The treated cattle and native cattle are carriers for a long period and even until the end of life that within this period of time, only few number of erythrocytes are contaminated with the parasite which their observation and also demonstrating of their presence can be done hardly (Tavassoli et al 2011). Such carriers are important contributers to the infection within Hyalomma ticks.…”

A molecular study on Theileria and Babesia in cattle from Isfahan province, Central Iran

“…Bovine Theileria and Babesia have been investigated using molecular techniques and microscopy in the some part of the Iran (Fakhar et al 2012;Ziapour et al 2011;Hoghooghi-Rad et al 2011;Tavassoli et al 2011;Azizi et al 2008).…”