FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports2019; 19; 100367; doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100367

Babesia (Theileria) equi genotype A among Indian equine population.

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis, caused by Babesia (Theileria) equi, is well reported from many parts of India. However, literature regarding its prevalence from semi arid India is limited. Alongside, there is complete absence of information about genetic characterization of B.(T.) equi and the associated genotypes from India. In the present study, the prevalence of B.(T.) equi was studied from semi arid India using 18S ribosomal gene based PCR assay. An overall prevalence rate of 10.46% was recorded. PCR was more sensitive and specific in comparison with blood smears. The found isolates were sequenced. These sequences were aligned and submitted into NCBI. All the isolates showed 100% homology with each other and represented a single haplotype. When compared with other isolates of B.(T.) equi across India and globe, using Genetool and Mega 6 softwares, they showed 99.5-99.2% and 95.7-97.0% homologies, respectively. A unique substitution of G by A at 206 nucleotide position was reported in all found isolates in comparison to earlier reported isolates from India. The studied isolates were found to be phylogenetically closer to isolates from USA and Trinidad than to other parts of the world. All the Indian isolates belonged to genotype A of B.(T.) equi.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2019-12-12 PubMed ID: 32057394DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100367Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article investigates the prevalence and genetic characteristics of the Babesia equi parasite in horses in semi arid India, discovering that it belongs to genotype A and shares significant genetic homology with isolates from the USA and Trinidad.

Objectives

  • The primary goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Babesia (Theileria) equi, a parasite causing equine piroplasmosis, in semi-arid regions of India.
  • The authors also aimed to characterize the genetic properties of this parasite, specifically its genotype as there are no existing studies on this from India.

Methods and Findings

  • Using a PCR assay based on the 18S ribosomal gene, the authors observed a 10.46% prevalence rate of Babesia (Theileria) equi infection. It was noted that this method was more sensitive and specific compared to blood smear analysis.
  • The isolated parasites were then sequenced and the sequences were submitted to NCBI for database inclusion.
  • The sequences from the different isolates were highly similar (100% homology), suggesting they originated from the same haplotype.
  • Comparisons using Genetool and Mega 6 softwares showed strong genetic similarities with other Babesia (Theileria) equi isolates in India and globally, ranging from 95.7% to 99.5% homology.
  • One distinguishing characteristic was a substitution of G by A at the 206 nucleotide position in all isolates. This mutation was apparently unique to these isolates and not previously reported in Indian isolates.

Conclusion

  • The findings indicate the studied isolates were genetically closer to isolates from the USA and Trinidad than other parts of the world.
  • The identified isolates of Babesia (Theileria) equi in India belonged to genotype A. This identification fills a gap in understanding the genomic landscape of Babesia (Theileria) equi in India, particularly in semi-arid regions.

Cite This Article

APA
Kumar S, Sudan V, Shanker D, Devi A. (2019). Babesia (Theileria) equi genotype A among Indian equine population. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports, 19, 100367. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100367

Publication

Veterinary parasitology, regional studies and reports
ISSN: 2405-9390
NlmUniqueID: 101680410
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 19
Pages: 100367
PII: S2405-9390(19)30200-X

Researcher Affiliations

Kumar, Sanjeev
  • Department of Veterinary Parasitology, U. P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, India.
Sudan, Vikrant
  • Department of Veterinary Parasitology, U. P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, India. Electronic address: viks.sudan@gmail.com.
Shanker, Daya
  • Department of Veterinary Parasitology, U. P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, India.
Devi, Anjali
  • Department of Veterinary Parasitology, U. P. Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan (DUVASU), Mathura 281001, India.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia / classification
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Genotype
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • India / epidemiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis / parasitology

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Bonnet SI, Bertagnoli S, Falchi A, Figoni J, Fite J, Hoch T, Quillery E, Moutailler S, Raffetin A, René-Martellet M, Vourc'h G, Vial L. An Update of Evidence for Pathogen Transmission by Ticks of the Genus Hyalomma. Pathogens 2023 Mar 25;12(4).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens12040513pubmed: 37111399google scholar: lookup
  2. Elsawy BSM, Nassar AM, Alzan HF, Bhoora RV, Ozubek S, Mahmoud MS, Kandil OM, Mahdy OA. Rapid Detection of Equine Piroplasms Using Multiplex PCR and First Genetic Characterization of Theileria haneyi in Egypt. Pathogens 2021 Oct 31;10(11).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens10111414pubmed: 34832570google scholar: lookup
  3. Dao TTH, Szűts T, Duong NN, Troung DTQ, Solymosi N, Takács N, Hornok S, Farkas R. The first molecular detection of equine piroplasmosis in Vietnam and genetic characterization of three co-circulating genotypes of Theileria equi. Parasitol Res 2026 Feb 5;125(1):14.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-026-08630-4pubmed: 41644779google scholar: lookup
  4. Qin S, Kulabieke T, Mizhamuhan D, Zhang M, Jin M, Abula G, Pi M, Wang H, Zhang Y, Guo Q. Molecular Prevalence and Genotypic Diversity of Theileria equi in Xinjiang, China, Based on Three Genes. Vet Sci 2025 Dec 25;13(1).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci13010027pubmed: 41600683google scholar: lookup
  5. Gupta KK, Gupta N, Kumar S, Srivastava M, Kumar P. Equine piroplasmosis: an emerging tick-borne threat to equine health. Trop Anim Health Prod 2026 Jan 5;58(1):29.
    doi: 10.1007/s11250-025-04829-2pubmed: 41489672google scholar: lookup
  6. Soliman AM, Elhawary NM, Helmy NM, El-Seify MA, Amer MM, Mohamed S, Memon FU, Rashid MHO, Gadelhaq SM. Molecular detection and genotyping of Theileria equi infection within the equine population in Giza, Egypt, using real-time PCR as compared with conventional detection methods. Iran J Vet Res 2025;26(2):145-151.
    doi: 10.22099/ijvr.2025.51028.7553pubmed: 41170307google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,129 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.