Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi Infections in Equids from Erbil Province, North of Iraq

Abstract

This study performed molecular detection and analysis of the heterogeneity of the 18S rRNA gene isolates obtained from equids such as horse, mule, donkey and pony from Erbil province, Kurdistan region of Iraq. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicated that 76/136 (55.88%) of equine were infected with piroplasms, with Theileria equi (P=41.91%; CI=3.76-14.77%) more prevalent than Babesia caballi (P=8.82%; CI=1.00%), while mixed infection was less (P=5.15%; CI=0.21-1.46%) with a significant difference (P<0.001). There was a significant association between the prevalence of T. equi and recreation (p<0.03) or racing (p<0.02), and but neither the type of equids nor the gender and age groups was significantly associated with prevalence. The obtained sequences were utilized for characterizing the genotypes and phylogeny of both the protozoa. BLAST analysis indicated 98-100% similarity to species isolated in Turkey, Malaysia, Egypt, Sudan, Jordan, Iran, Brazil and South Africa. Four 18S rRNA genotype clades were observed for T. equi (A, B, C and D) and two for B. caballi (A and B). Genetic variation found among the equids in Erbil province is probably due to introduction of equines from other countries without quarantine measures. This study indicates that infection with T. equi is more prevalent than that of B. caballi in the studied area.

Molecular detection and occurrence of equine theileriosis in Arabian horses in Al-Najaf province/Iraq

“…The current study proved the detection of Theileria equi of the 18S rRNA gene by PCR in 42 out of 110 samples, with percentages reaching 38.18% in horses suffering from main disease signs (pyrexia and icterus). This is close to the results of Aziz et al (2019), who recorded the rate of occurrence of equine theileriosis diagnosed by PCR (41.91%) in Erbil, Iraq, as well as the results being somewhat consistent with those of Saleem & Al-Samarai (2018), who recorded 32% in central Iraq. In the neighboring countries of Iraq Saudi Arabia (Alanazi et al, 2012), Jordan (Abutarbush et al, 2012), Iran (Abedi et al, 2014) and Turkey (Guven et al, 2017), the percentages were 10.14%, 14.6%, 48%, and 8.8%, respectively.…”

Rapid Detection of Equine Piroplasms Using Multiplex PCR and First Genetic Characterization of Theileria haneyi in Egypt

“…The result of this study also indicate that the prevalence of coinfections with both parasites (T. equi and B. caballi) in equids was 1.9%, which is lower than that detected in Mongolia (7.7%) [40] and Iraq (5.15%) [41] using mPCR and in Cuba (20%) [21] and Nigeria (2.7%) using nested PCR [9].…”

Molecular Identification of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi from Ixodid Ticks Infesting Equids in Erbil Province, Northern of Iraq

“…Several studies have conducted about tick-borne diseases in equids and other animals using different methods in some regions of Iraq (Estrada-Peña et al, 2004;Alsaad et al, 2010;Aziz et al, 2019). The scarcity of literature related to equids showing any previous molecular study targeting tick population responsible for transmission of theileriosis and babesiosis in Erbil state has not performed any comparison on the prevalence of ixodid tick vectors in the region.…”

“…Seemingly, PCR techniques have higher sensitivity and specificity compared with other techniques including serological assays and Giemsa stained blood smears (Buling et al, 2007;Jefferies et al, 2007) Studies have been done to determine the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis from different parts of Iraq using serological techniques and microscopic examination (Alsaad et al, 2012). However, there is a very few molecular epidemiological study on piroplasm parasites from infected animals in Erbil province (Aziz et al, 2019).…”