Molecular Detection of Theileria annulata among Dairy Cattle and Vector Ticks in the Herat Area, Afghanistan.

Theileriosis is one of the most important diseases in tropical and subtropical regions and leads to annual economic losses, such as the reduction of dairy products and casualties. Although the clinical form of bovine theileriosis has been observed in Afghanistan, to the best of our knowledge, no comprehensive study has been conducted on this issue. This molecular survey was performed to identify Theileria annulata and tick vectors in dairy cattle in the Herat area, Afghanistan, from June 2015-September 2016. A total of 100 dairy cattle were clinically examined and their blood smears, EDTA blood samples, and ixodid ticks were collected. The blood samples were transported to the laboratory, followed by the preparation of the blood smears and staining with the Giemsa method. The collected ticks were identified at the species (spp) level using the identification key and were then separated into 70 tick pools according to their species. Subsequently, the salivary glands were dissected out in 0.85% saline under a stereomicroscope. The DNA of blood and salivary glands was extracted using a commercial kit and analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The ring form of Theileria spp infection was observed in 22 (22%) of blood smears, while 74% of blood samples were T. annulata positive using PCR. Among the collected ticks, the numbers of male and female ticks were obtained at 219 and 130 ticks, respectively. The frequency of tick spp was rated in descending order as Hyalomma annatolicum (73.9%), Hyalomma excavatum (22.3%), Hyalomma nymph spp (12%), Hyalomma marginatum (1.7%), Hyalomma asiaticum (1.1%), and Hyalomma rufipes (0.75%). The PCR results showed that seven pools belonging to salivary glands of H. anatolicum were infected with T. annulata. Based on the obtained results, it can be concluded that T. annulata had a high frequency in dairy cattle and H. anatoloicum was also identified, such as the vectors of T. annulata in the Herat area, Afghanistan.

Prevalence of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Bulk Milk of Dairy Cattle, Mashhad, Iran.

Neospora caninum (N. caninum) and Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) are both obligate intracellular protozoan parasites, which have gained considerable attention because of their role in bovine abortion. This study aimed to detect anti-N. caninum and -T. gondii in bulk milk of dairy cattle, Mashhad, Iran. The bulk milk samples were collected from July 2014 to June 2015 and analyzed for anti-N. caninum and -T.gondii antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Out of 123 bulk milk samples, 44 (35%), 14 (11.38%), and 3 (2.4%) samples had N. caninum, T. gondii, and mixed infection with these two parasites, respectively. According to the results, the prevalence of N. caninum infection was more than T.gondii infection in dairy cattle of Mashhad, Iran.

Molecular detection of equine piroplasms in donkeys (Equus asinus) in North Khorasan province, Iran.

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 host-related 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.

Alveolar Echinococcosis Infection in a Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) In Mashhad, Iran.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), which is caused by ingestion of eggs of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, is the most potentially lethal parasitic infection because of its tendency to invade and proliferate in the liver and the difficulty in treatment. This article describes a case of alveolar echinococcosis found in Ateles geoffroyi in Mashhad, Iran. The cysts were characterized as an alveolar structure, composed of numerous small vesicles in liver, abdominal cavity, retroperitoneum and lungs. A characteristic feature of these vesicles was its exogenous tumor-like proliferation. These cysts were filled with numerous protoscoleces suggesting a potential role of this monkey in cycle of transmission. Up to now, this is probably the first report of alveolar echinococcosis in A. geoffroyi in the world.