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

Abstract

Theileria annulata, a protozoan parasite of cattle is causes tropical theileriosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to assess the presence and the frequency of T. annulata infection in blood samples obtained from carrier cattle in Kerman, Southeast of Iran. Blood samples were collected in citrate solution from 150 native cattle with mean age of 1 year which selected randomly. Primarily, a thin layer smear was prepared from their ear sublime vein blood and was fixed with methanol and stained with Giemsa dye. Blood smears were examined for the presence of parasites, and blood samples were analyzed by PCR. Piroplasmic forms of T. annulata were seen in 16 of 150 (10.66 %) by examination the blood smears with light microscope, whereas 68 of 150 (45.33 %) cattle were positive by PCR method. All animals that were positive by blood smears were also positive by PCR. Difference between these methods was significant (P \ 0.05). Our results demonstrate that this PCR assay in diagnosing T. annulata parasites in carrier cattle is more sensitive than method of smear preparation and can be used in epidemiological studies.

Contrasting population genetics of cattle- and buffalo-derived Theileria annulata causing tropical theileriosis

“…High levels of genetic diversity are a major hurdle for the development of subunit vaccines for use in different host species; for example, where cross-protection between cattle- and buffalo-derived T. parva strains may be incomplete (Young et al, 1973). Studies of T. parva in African buffalo have shown high genetic diversity when compared to cattle (Oura et al, 2005); but while T. annulata can infect both cattle and Asian buffalo (Nourollahi-Fard et al, 2015), genetic comparisons between strains infecting sympatric host populations have not been reported. Understanding of allelic variations of buffalo- and cattle-derived T. annulata and their circulation is needed to inform antigenicity and immunogenicity in vaccine development.…”

“…The genus Theileria includes two particularly important species, Theileria annulata and Theileria parva (Lawrence, 1979). T. parva typically causes East Coast Fever, Corridor Disease, or January Disease in southern and eastern Africa (Uilenberg et al, 1982), whereas, T. annulata causes tropical theileriosis in North Africa and South Asia (Nourollahi-Fard et al, 2015). Tropical theileriosis is amongst the most important neglected tropical parasitic diseases of livestock (Sivakumar et al, 2014).…”

Genetic characterization of Coxiella burnetii in Amblyomma varigatum ticks from North-central Nigeria: public health importance

“…However, they are gram-negative, gamma proteobacteria that infect and thought to acquire the pathogen during a blood meal on cause a worldwide zoonoses, Q fever, in humans and infected animals and may transmit the bacterium to animals. Ticks act as reservoirs and responsible for the other mammals during the next blood meal or by transmission of the pathogen to animals through their aerogenic spread of dried tick faecal excretions [3,8]. bite or fecal contamination [2,3], and the major source Amongst the tick genera that serve as reservoir for of dissemination of the pathogen in the environment as this pathogen, the genus Amblyomma seem to have a a result of the high concentration of the pathogen in tick high prevalence and capacity to maintain the Coxiella feces, saliva, and coxal fluid [4].…”

“…Ticks act as reservoirs and responsible for the other mammals during the next blood meal or by transmission of the pathogen to animals through their aerogenic spread of dried tick faecal excretions [3,8]. bite or fecal contamination [2,3], and the major source Amongst the tick genera that serve as reservoir for of dissemination of the pathogen in the environment as this pathogen, the genus Amblyomma seem to have a a result of the high concentration of the pathogen in tick high prevalence and capacity to maintain the Coxiella feces, saliva, and coxal fluid [4]. The infected domestic and Coxiella-like symbionts as observed in studies animals and pets through their milk, urine, feces, involving A. americanum and A. cajennense [9,10,11].…”

“…samples were collected from the body of cattle on the The presence of C. burnetti in other tick species basis of accessibility and convenience as a result of the have been reported [3,4]. However, the importance of ethno-religious conflicts inherent in the areas sampled.…”