First Molecular Identification and Genetic Characterization ofTheileria lestoquardiin Sheep of the Maghreb Region

Abstract

Theileria lestoquardi is the most prominent Theileria species in small ruminants that causes malignant theileriosis of sheep in Africa and Asia. In the present survey, blood samples and ticks were collected in Kebili (southern Tunisia) from 166 Queue Fine de l'Ouest sheep. Giemsa-stained blood smears, immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and PCR were performed. The DNA was extracted from blood and analysed by PCR targeting 18S rRNA gene of Theileria spp. and then sequenced. A total number of 140 ticks were collected from a total number of 166 sheep during the four seasons. The ticks belonged to two genera and 4 species; the most frequent tick was Hyalomma excavatum 84.3% (118/140) and then Rhipicephalus spp. 15.7% (22/140). Only two animals had positive Giemsa-stained blood smears, and they were also positive by IFAT. The amplicons had 99.3 and 99.6% homology with the BLAST published T. lestoquardi amplicons. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T. lestoquardi in small ruminants within the Maghreb region.

Prevalence of <i>Theileria</i> and <i>Babesia</i> species in Tunisian sheep

“…The same results were reported in Turkey (Altay et al 2007 ). In the present study, no T. lestoquardi was isolated, but Rjeibi et al ( 2014a ) detected two positive animals, raising the question whether this species is established in Tunisia or not.…”

“…( 2013 ) and Rjeibi et al ( 2014b ). Recently, Rjeibi et al ( 2014a ) reported T. lestoquardi for the first time in sheep in southern Tunisia.…”

First molecular isolation of <i>Mycoplasma ovis</i> from small ruminants in North Africa

“…In Tunisia, as in several other North and sub-Saharan African countries, small ruminants face harsh production conditions, which are exacerbated by both a high frequency of extreme climatic conditions and a plethora of bacterial and viral diseases with high prevalence rates of infections, such as brucellosis, border disease and peste des petits ruminants. Several parasitic diseases occur with high incidence and infection intensity, such as echinococcosis (Lahmar et al 2013 ), fasciolosis (Akkari, Gharbi & Darghouth 2011 ), gastrointestinal helminths (Akkari, Gharbi & Darghouth 2012 ), toxoplasmosis (Gharbi et al 2013 ) and piroplasmosis (M'ghirbi et al 2013 ; Rjeibi, Darghouth et al 2014 ; Rjeibi, Gharbi et al 2014 ). This results in a very high challenge to the immune system, which is further exacerbated by long periods of food shortage during which quantitative and qualitative nutrient supplies are well below animals’ requirements (Rekik, Aloulou & Ben Hamouda 2005 ).…”

“…The local sheep and goat populations in North Africa are subject to high exposure to new pathogens such as Theileria lestoquardi (Rjeibi, Darghouth et al 2014 ) because of the high permeability of its borders to important flows of small ruminants from both the western and southern neighbouring countries.…”

Prevalence, First Molecular Identification and Characterization of Theileria lestoquardi in Sheep in Alhuda National Sheep Research Station, Al Gezira State, Sudan

“…were detected in 31 animals out of 45 (68.9%) by ME, which was similar to the rate reported by Gadelrb [19] in Khartoum State, Central Sudan (68%) but higher than that found by Osman et al [20], South-Darfur State, western, Sudan (4.9%). Different prevalence rates were recorded in different parts of the world; 29% in Iran [21], 4.8% in Tunisia [22] and 1.2% in Maghreb [23]. The high prevalence rate determined in the current study compared to other regions may be attributed to differences in climatic conditions and sample collection times as observed by Yaghfoori [24].…”