Detection of Theileria equi infection in ixodid ticks of equines using nested polymerase chain reaction from Punjab, India

DEEPAK SUMBRIA; L D SINGLA; AMRITA SHARMA; M S BAL

doi:10.56093/ijans.v88i10.84072

Authors

DEEPAK SUMBRIA Post-Doctoral Research Associate, University of Tennessee, United States
L D SINGLA Professor and Head of Department, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences
AMRITA SHARMA PhD Scholar, University of Georgia, United States
M S BAL Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences

https://doi.org/10.56093/ijans.v88i10.84072

Keywords:

Equines, Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, Nested-PCR, Scanning electron microscopy, Theileria equi

Abstract

The aim of this study was to perceive Theileria equi DNA in ticks by nested PCR and to list the risk factors associated with infection in equines from Punjab. A total of 84 ticks were obtained from 464 screened animals. The local tick variety was identified and verified on the basis of characters revealed in scanning electron microscopy. Amplicons of 665 bp obtained by nPCR specific for 18S rRNA of T. equi were detected in 13.1% of ticks, with higher risk of infection in western than in eastern Punjab. Incidence of parasite was higher in Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum as compared to Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, particularly the female ticks. Phylogenetic analyses indicated closed homology with strain from Brazil. This is the first study of T. equi incidence in ixodid ticks in Punjab which is the most important vector for the spread of the infection to healthy equine in endemic areas.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Adamska M and Skotarczak B. 2017. Molecular detection of piroplasms in feeding and questing Ixodes ricinus ticks. Annals of Parasitology 63(1): 21–26.

Anbalagan S, Prasanna V A, Kannan M and Krishnan M. 2014. The midgut bacterial flora of the hard tick Hyalomma anatolicum (Acari: Ixodidae) from South India as determined by molecular analyses. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 38(5): 520–25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3906/vet-1405-27

Baldani C D, Nakaghi A C and Machado R Z. 2010. Occurrence of Theileria equi in horses raised in the Jaboticabal micro region, São Paulo State, Brazil. Revista de Biología Tropical 19: 228–32. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612010000400007

Battsetseg B, Lucero S, Xuan X, Claveria F G, Inoue, Alhassan A, Kanno T, Igarashi I, Nagasawa H, Mikami T and Fujisaki K. 2002. Detection of natural infection of Boophilus microplus with Babesia equi and Babesia caballi in Brazilian horses using nested polymerase chain reaction. Veterinary Parasitology 107: 375–77. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0304-4017(02)00131-0

Ebrahimi M, Adinehbeigi K, Hamidinejat H and Tabandeh M R. 2018. Molecular characterization of Theileria equi infection in horse populations belonging to West Azerbaijan, Iran: insights into the importance of Equine Merozoite Antigen (EMA)-1 in its diagnosis. Annals of Parasitology 64: 21–27.

Estrada-Pena A, Bouattour A, Camicas J L and Walker A R. 2004. Ticks of Domestic Animals in the Mediterranean Region, a Guide to Identification of Species. Bioscience Reports, UK.

Garcia-Bocanegra I, Arenas-Montes A, Hernandez E, Adaszek L, Carbonero A, Almeria S, Jaen-Tellez J A, Gutierrez- Palomino P and Arenas A. 2013. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infection in equids. Veterinary Journal 195: 172–78. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.06.012

Halosa L, Jamala T, Vialb L, Maillarda R, Suaud A, Menache A L, Boulouisa H J and Vayssier-taussat M. 2004. Determination of an efficient and reliable method for DNA extraction from ticks. Veterinary Research 35: 709–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/vetres:2004038

Haque M, Jyoti, Singh N K, Rath S S and Ghosh S. 2011. Epidemiology and seasonal dynamics of Ixodid ticks of dairy animals of Punjab state, India. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 81: 661–64.

Hussain M H, Saqib M, Raza F, Muhammad G, Asi M N, Mansoor M K, Saleem M and Jabbar A. 2014. Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in five draught equine populated metropolises of Punjab, Pakistan. Veterinary Parasitology 202(3–4): 248–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.01.026

Kang Y and Jang D. 1985. Scanning electron microscopic observation on the surface structure of tick Boophilus microplus (canestrini, 1887) female specimens. Korean Journal of Parasitology 23: 313–23. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.1985.23.2.313

Kumar S, Malhotra D V, Sangwan A K, Goel P, Kumar A and Kumar S. 2007. Infectivity rate and transmission potential of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks for Babesia equi infection. Veterinary Parasitology 144: 338–43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.10.009

Manna G, Cersini A, Nardini R, Bartolomé Del Pino L E, Antognetti V, Zini M, Conti R, Lorenzetti R, Veneziano V, Autorino G L and Scicluna M T. 2018. Genetic diversity of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infecting horses of Central- Southern Italy and preliminary results of its correlation with clinical and serological status. Ticks and Tick Borne Disease 9(5): 1212–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.05.005

Sangwan A K, Chhabra M B and Samantaray S. 1989. Relative role of male and female Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks in Theileria transmission. Veterinary Parasitology 31: 83–87. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(89)90010-1

Santos T M, Roier E C R, Santos H A, Pires M S, Vilela J A R, Moraes L M B, Almeida F Q, Baldani C D, Machado R Z and Massard C L. 2011. Factors associated to Theileria equi in equids of two microregions from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Parasitology 20: 235–41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612011000300011

Sharma R D, Tanwar R K, Gahlot A K, Yadav J S and Rajvanshi D S. 1982. Note on clinical studies in Babesia equi infection in ponies. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 52: 1001–03.

Soulsby E L J. 2005. Helminths, Arthopods and Protozoa of Domestic Animal. 7th edition. Elsevier.

Sumbria D, Singla L D and Sharma A. 2015b. Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection of equids in Punjab, India: a serological and molecular survey. Tropical Animal Health and Production. 48(1): 45–52. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-015-0917-1

Sumbria D, Singla L D, Kumar S, Sharma A, Dahiya R K and Setia R. 2016. Spatial distribution, risk factors and haematobiochemical alterations associated with Theileria equi infected equids of Punjab (India) diagnosed by indirect ELISA and nested PCR. Acta Tropica 155: 104–12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.12.020

Sumbria D, Singla L D, Sharma A, Bal M S and Kumar S. 2015a. 36 Multiplex PCR for detection of Trypanosoma evansi and Theileria equi in equids of Punjab, India. Veterinary Parasitology 211: 293–99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.05.018

Sumbria D, Singla L D, Sharma A, Bal M S and Randhawa C S. 2017. Molecular survey in relation to risk factors and haematobiochemical alteration in Theileria equi infection of equines in Punjab Province, India. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports 8: 43–50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2017.01.009

Sumbria D, Singla L D, Sharma A, Moudgil A D and Bal M S. 2014. Equine trypanosomosis in central and western Punjab: Prevalence, haemato-biochemical response and associated risk factor. Acta Tropica 138: 44–50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2014.06.003

Sumbria D, Singla L D and Kaur P. 2018. Sero-prevalence and risk factor analysis of Theileria equi infection in equids from different agro-climatic zones of Punjab (India) by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports 13: 18–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2018.03.003