Phylogenetic study of Theileria ovis and Theileria lestoquardi in sheep from Egypt: Molecular evidence and genetic characterization.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Ovine theileriosis caused by Theileria ovis and Theileria lestoquardi is an important infectious disease affecting small ruminants in regions of the tropic and subtropic zones. There is limited studies about ovine theileriosis in Egypt; so the present study aims to assess the occurrence of ovine theileriosis in Egypt at the molecular level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Blood samples were collected from 115 randomly selected sheep, which were apparently healthy; the ages of the sampled sheep ranged from 1 to 5 years old, from a local breed (barkae and balade), and showed no symptoms indicating infection with Theileria spp. The study was conducted in three governorates representing Lower Egypt (Menoufia and Beheira) and Upper Egypt (El-Wady El-Geded). All blood samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and semi-nested PCR to target Theileria spp. 18S rRNA genes. Positive samples were sequenced, and these sequences were analyzed using nucleotidebasic local alignment search tool (BLAST). RESULTS: Six animals (5.22%) were PCR-positive carriers for ovine theileriosis. Nucleotide BLAST and phylogenetic analyses of the six obtained sequences showed that T. ovis was present in five animals (4.37%) in Menoufia (n=2) and El-Wady El-Geded (n=3), whereas T. lestoquardi was detected in 1 animal (0.87%) in El-Wady El-Geded. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to provide molecular evidence, genetic characterization, and phylogenetic analysis of ovine Theileria spp. in Egypt. Specifically, T. lestoquardi and T. ovis carrier statuses of sheep were confirmed. These results highlight the importance of developing an effective control strategy against ovine theileriosis carriers that might develop and/or spread theileriosis.

Knowledge and perception on ticks and tick-borne diseases among veterinary medicine students from the North African countries of Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia.

Ticks are important vectors of both animal and human pathogens. The epidemiology of tick-borne diseases (TBDs) has dramatically changed in several regions in the world. As parasitology is a continuously growing field, assessing the knowledge of veterinary medicine students provides useful indicators and information on the level of intervention required to adapt parasitological courses to meet the demands in a changing world. This study aimed to assess, in three North African veterinary education establishments, the basic parasitology knowledge of veterinary medicine students. Such a study is essential to build up core competencies regarding ticks and TBDs, and to suggest suitable adjustment measures to parasitology courses. The present study was based on a self-administered and anonymous questionnaire on ticks and TBDs basic knowledge and perception. The survey was completed by 558 veterinary medicine students in Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia in 2018. The students were divided into two groups: the "before" group - students who had not yet completed the parasitology course, and the "after" group - students who had already completed it. In all studied countries, the "after" students' group gave significantly more correct answers (83.16%) than the "before" students' group (16.84%) (p < 0.001). Similarly, the percentage of "no answer" was higher in the "before" students' group (51.02%) compared to the "after" students' group (48.98%) (p < 0.001). The most frequent false answers provided by the "after" students' group regarded the number of tick species present in their own countries (5.14% of correct answers), and the most common tick species in their countries (18.11% of correct answers). Almost 58.38% (216/370) of the "after" students' group knew that ticks transmit zoonotic pathogens to humans; among them, only 63 (29.17%) gave the correct names of the zoonotic diseases in their country. Among the three countries, more than 80% of the "after" students' group thought that climate has an influences on ticks. According to this group, the most frequent factor that has influences on ticks' abundance is heat (53.02%). As North African countries share several similitudes, we suggest creating a network of parasitological teachers where common teaching sources and resources could be developed for both teachers and students in the region. This network would allow the exchange of teaching approaches and materials to introduce harmonization into veterinary parasitological courses across North African countries. This is particularly important when considering the increasing incidence of ticks and TBDs in the region.

Phylogenetic analysis of Salmonella species isolated from cows, buffaloes, and humans based on gyrB gene sequences.

This study aimed to investigate the role of dairy cows and buffaloes as reservoirs of nontyphoidal salmonelloses (NTS), to reveal the occurrence of NTS among dairy workers and children with acute diarrhea and to study the gyrB gene phylogenetic relations of the obtained Salmonella strains, 300 samples were chosen randomly from clinically infected animals, including 100 feces and 50 raw milk from buffaloes and cows. Five hundred samples were chosen randomly from healthy animals, including 150 feces and 100 raw milk from buffaloes and cows. A total of 160 stool samples were randomly chosen from healthy workers (60) and children with acute diarrhea (100). Salmonella species were isolated from the examined samples and identified by polymerase chain reaction. Sequencing and phylogenetic analyses of gyrB gene were also performed. S. enteritidis and S.typhimurium were isolated from 0.5% (2/400) of the cows and buffaloes, respectively. Dairy workers were found to be at greater risk of exposure to Salmonella infection (5%) than children (1%). S. enteritidis was isolated from 1.7% (1/60) of dairy workers. S. typhimurium was isolated from 3.33% (2/60) and 1% (1/100) of dairy workers and children, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of Salmonella species gyrB gene sequences from both animals and humans falls inside one clade, and all of them were closely related to each other with less significant genetic distance (99.9:100). In conclusion, cows and buffaloes act as reservoirs of Salmonella infection in dairy farms in Egypt and contribute a risk of zoonotic transmission to human.

Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in North Africa: a review.

Toxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. The disease is distributed worldwide and can affect all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. The present review aimed to collect, compile and summarize the data on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in humans and animals in the five North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt). Published data from national and international databases were used. Distribution patterns and risk factors for T. gondii infection are discussed, focusing on biotic and abiotic factors. This review is a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of T. gondii infection in North Africa and will therefore be a useful tool for researchers. It can also be used to propose or enhance appropriate national toxoplasmosis control programs.

Co-infection with different serotypes of FMDV in vaccinated cattle in Southern Egypt.

During 2015-2016 period, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) was observed in cattle in four governorates of the upper of Egypt. The infection was extended to the vaccinated cattle. A total of 54 mouth swabs and serum samples were collected from vaccinated cattle for serological and virological investigation. The typical clinical signs of FMDV infection were observed in all cattle under investigation. All samples were positive for FMDV using molecular methods, while the serological method showed 85% positive of tested samples. Typing of FMDV-positive samples using serotype-specific primers showed that 51.8% of samples were serotype O, 9.2% were serotype A, and 18.5% were SAT 2. Surprisingly, co-infections of serotypes A/SAT 2 (12.9%) and O/SAT 2 (7.4%) were also detected. By geographical location, the 3 serotypes A, O, and SAT2 were detected in all four governorates. The phylogenetic assessment of the detected viruses showed that two distinct groups of FMDV serotype O of East Africa-3 (EA-3) topotype were most closely related to circulating viruses in Sudan, as well as FMDV strains belonging to the topotype VII of serotype SAT 2. The detected SAT 2 strains clustered in separate clades in topotype VII, indicating new incursions. The VP1 signatures and protein sequences of some characterized viruses were analyzed. Multiple mutations were detected in VP1. Therefore, to enhance the control of FMD in Egypt, we recommend establishing an active surveillance system to characterize newly emerging virus strains/serotypes and subsequently updating vaccine strains.