ABSTRACT
Equine piroplasmosis is a tickborne disease of equids with worldwide distribution, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. The aim of this study was molecular detection of T. equi and B. caballi in donkeys in northeastern Iran and investigate the association between positivity of piroplasm infection and host-related factors. In the present study, Blood samples were collected from 106 apparently healthy donkeys [Equus asinus] in North Khorasan province, Iran. Blood smears were prepared and stained by giemsa method. DNA was extracted from blood and then multiplex-PCR was done for detection of any piroplasms infection. According to the results, four donkeys showed T. equi in blood smears but B. caballi was not found. Also, fifty four donkeys [50.94%] showed T. equi infection using multiplex-PCR. No siginificant difference was observed between the frequency of T. equi infection with hostrelated factors in donkeys. This is the first report on the molecular detection of eqiune piroplamosis in donkeys in Iran. Also, no significant association was found between the rate of T. equi infected animals
ABSTRACT
Background: Theileriosis is a blood protozoan disease with high mortality in cattle in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Several studies were conducted to identify Theileria species in infected cattles and vector ticks by microscopic examination. However, microscopic technique has lower sensitivity compared to molecular method
Objectives: This study was carried out to identify Theileria species and its carriers in cattles of Yazd city, sing semi nested PCR
Methods: Between June to September of 2012, 100 EDTA blood samples and 249 ticks were collected from Holstein breed with no history of vaccination against the ileriosis in Yazd area. The collected samples were transported to the laboratory, then prepared the blood smears and stained with Giemsa method. Also, the collected ticks were separated into 50 tick pools, according to their species. Then their salivary glands were removed using stereomicroscope in 0.85% saline. DNA of blood and salivary glands was extracted using a commercial kit and analyzed by Semi-nested PCR. PCR-RFLP was also used to differentiate Theileria lestoquardi from Theileria annulata in positive samples of ticks
Results: Ring forms of Theileria spp. were found in 4 [4%] of blood smears. All ticks were Hyalomma a.anatolicum. Results of PCR were indicated that 11 [11%] of blood samples and three pools of tick's salivary glands were infected with Theileria. Theileria annulata were only detected in all positive samples by Semi-nested PCR. The results of PCR-RFLP using MspI enzyme showed that the tick's salivary glands were negative to Theileria lestoquardi infection
Conclusions: Based on the results, it is concluded that Theileria annulata and Hyalomma a.anatolicum are important agent and vector tick of tropical theileriosis in dairy cattles of Yazd area
ABSTRACT
Abattoir survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths and the seasonal fluctuations in intestinal worm burdens and faecal worm egg counts of camel in Khorasan Razavi province in the northeast of Iran. A total of 306 dromedaries [Camelus dromedarius] in the Mashhad abattoir, in the northeast of Iran and the capital of Khorasan province were examined between October 2007 and September 2008. By coproscopy examinations, 75.1% of dromedaries were found to be harboring different types of nematod eggs. Faecal flotation revealed the presence of Nematodirus, Strongyloides, Trishuris, Marshallagia, stongyle type nematode eggs. In addition, gastrointestinal tracts of 50 camels slaughtered in the Mashhad abattoir were used for identification and count of helminths. Postmortem examinations revealed that the prevalence of helminths were Trichostrongylus probolurus [64%], Trichuris globulosa [40%], Camelostrongylus mentulatus [38%], T. colubriformis [34%], Stilesia globipunctata [30%], Nematodirella dromedarii [22%], Haemonchus longistipes [18%], Nematodirus oiratianus [16%], Cooperia oncophora [16%], Trichuris barbetonensis [10%], Parabronema skrjabini [10%], Nematodirella cameli [10%], Marshallagia marshalli [4%], Teladorsagia circumcincta [4%], Moniezia benedeni [3%], Moniezia expansa [3%] and Trichostrongylus vitrinus [2%]. Nematodirella dromedarii, Trichostrongylus probolurus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Cooperia oncophora, and Nematodirus oiratianus, were identified from dromedary in Iran for the first time. The pathological lesions in the affected abomasums, as well as small and large intestines, were hyperaemic and thickened mucosa with haemorrhagic foci. Histopathological examination revealed inflammatory reaction in the abomasa, flattened mucosa and villous atrophy with inflammatory reactions composed of eosinophils and lymphocytes in the intestines, respectively. The prevalence observed in the present study indicates the necessity of using an anthelmintic drug for increasing the health and productivity of camels