A study on prevalence and molecular characterization of trypanosomal species infecting equines in Lahore region, Pakistan.
Abstract: Trypanosomiasis is an important protozoal disease with a diverse range of susceptible host including human. In the current study, molecular characterization of prevalent species was done through a pan-trypanosome polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). A total of three hundred (n = 300) equines including horses, donkeys and mules (100 each) were randomly selected and the equine blood samples were subjected to screening for trypanosomes through microhaematocrit centrifuge technique (MHCT), conventional PCR, semi-nested PCR and RFLP. Overall prevalence of trypanosomal species was 8% (24/300) as revealed by MHCT and species wise prevalence in horses, donkeys and mules was 4.33% (13/300), 1.33% (4/300) and 2.33% (7/300), respectively. Conventional and semi-nested PCR depicted an overall prevalence of 21% (63/300) and species wise prevalence in horses, donkeys and mules was 12% (36/300), 3.67% (11/300) and 5.33% (16/300), respectively. RFLP analysis of the semi-nested products, using 1 and 571 enzymes, negated the presence of , , , , and in the positive samples and revealed that the animals might be suffering from infection as the enzymes used were not able to detect this species. This hypothesis was further confirmed by using specific primers which depicted all of the 63 samples were positive for . It is inferred that is the major species prevalent in equines. Furthermore, PCR is more sensitive as compared to microscopic examination and the pan-trypanosome PCR-RFLP assay is suitable for carrying out laboratory diagnosis of field samples and epidemiological studies. Further studies on the possibilities of use of other restriction enzymes may help to improve the species specificity of the assay.
Publication Date: 2017-12-12 PubMed ID: 29491567PubMed Central: PMC5825374DOI: 10.1007/s12639-017-0972-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses a study done on the presence and molecular characterization of a specific type of blood parasite species, particularly in horses, in Lahore region, Pakistan.
Objective and Methodology
- The study aimed at the molecular identification of prevalent trypanosomal species in equines in Lahore, Pakistan using pan-trypanosome polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Trypanosomiasis is a disease caused by these parasites that can infect a wide array of hosts, including humans.
- For the study, the blood samples of 300 equines which included horses, donkeys, and mules were subjected to different tests like the micro-haematocrit centrifuge technique (MHCT), conventional PCR, semi-nested PCR, and RFLP.
Findings
- Using MHCT, the overall prevalence of trypanosomal species was found to be 8% with species-wise prevalence in horses, donkeys, and mules being 4.33%, 1.33%, and 2.33% respectively.
- Using conventional and semi-nested PCR, the overall prevalence was found to be markedly higher, 21%, with species-wise prevalence in horses, donkeys, and mules being 12%, 3.67%, and 5.33% respectively.
- The RFLP analysis of the semi-nested products indicated a possible infection of the named species, as the enzymes used were unable to detect other species. This was later confirmed by using specific primers.
Conclusion and Implications
- The conclusion drawn was that the species was the major species prevalent in equines in the Lahore region. Thus, indicating a geographic prevalence of this parasitic infection.
- Another important finding was the superior sensitivity of PCR testing compared to microscopic examination for detecting the parasite. This shows that PCR methods can be more reliable for studying this parasitic infection and that the pan-trypanosome PCR-RFLP assay can effectively be used for laboratory diagnosis and epidemiological studies.
- The paper also suggests that future research on the use of other restriction enzymes may help to improve the species specificity of the assay, thereby improving the quality and accuracy of diagnosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Sabir N, Chaudhry ZI, Aslam A, Muhammad K, Shahid M, Hussain A, Khan SA, Ahmad I.
(2017).
A study on prevalence and molecular characterization of trypanosomal species infecting equines in Lahore region, Pakistan.
J Parasit Dis, 42(1), 96-101.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-017-0972-9 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.
- 2Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Out Fall Road, Lahore, 54000 Pakistan.
- 2Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Out Fall Road, Lahore, 54000 Pakistan.
- 2Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Out Fall Road, Lahore, 54000 Pakistan.
- 1College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China.
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, The University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, 12350 Pakistan.
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, The University of Poonch Rawalakot, Rawalakot, 12350 Pakistan.
- 2Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Out Fall Road, Lahore, 54000 Pakistan.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Compliance with ethical statementThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.The experimental design and protocol was submitted to the directorate of advanced studies and research, UVAS, Lahore and was duly approved before the start of the study.Informed consent was obtained from all of the owners of the animals included in the study.
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Khan W, Hafeez MA, Lateef M, Awais M, Wajid A, Shah BA, Ali S, Asif Z, Ahmed M, Kakar N, Nisar Mengal A, Wahab M. Parasitological, molecular, and epidemiological investigation of Trypanosoma evansi infection among dromedary camels in Balochistan province. Parasitol Res 2023 Aug;122(8):1833-1839.
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