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Home / Equine Research Bank / Pathogens / Dynamics of Theileria equi Infection in Rhipicephalus (Booph...
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2022; 11(5); 525; doi: 10.3390/pathogens11050525

Dynamics of Theileria equi Infection in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus during the Parasitic Phase in a Chronically Infected Horse.

Abstract: Experimental studies have demonstrated that () transmits to horses. However, the degree and dynamics of this protozoan infection in the vector's organism have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the infection rate and parasitic load of in , the infection dynamics in this arthropod during experimental infestation in a horse chronically infected with , and to evaluate the trans-stadial and intrastadial transmission competence of by . The experimental infestation period of on the horse was 33 days, but males were found on the animal up to 60 days post-infestation. After the fifth day post-infestation, ticks and equine blood were collected every two days. Whole ticks from the same developmental stage collected in the same day were pooled. Adult ticks were dissected to extract salivary glands and gut. DNA extraction was performed for all the samples, and they were then submitted to qPCRs for diagnosis. Freshly molted nymphs collected as larvae in the horse and freshly molted males and females collected as nymphs in the horse showed equal to or greater than 75% positivity for , indicating a strong possibility of trans-stadial transmission. The longest permanence of the male ticks on the horse associated with the high positivity rate of this type of sample for indicate that the male may play a role in the intrastadial transmission of to infection-free horses. The salivary glands displayed 77.78% positivity for and presented a higher infection rate at the end of the experimental period (100% from 29 to 33 days post-infection). This study shows that has high infection rates and that the infection rate and parasitic load increased over the experimental period. These findings confirm the importance of chronically infected horses with as a source of infection for
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Publication Date: 2022-04-29 PubMed ID: 35631046PubMed Central: PMC9142995DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11050525Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 paper discusses a study on the rate of Theileria equi infection – a protozoan infection – in a tick species known as Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, with a focus on the dynamics of this infection during the parasitic phase in chronically infected horses.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study sought to gain clarity on the infection rate and parasitic load of Theileria equi in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. It particularly explored the dynamics of the infection during the experimental infestation in a horse chronically infected with Theileria equi.
  • The study also evaluated the possibility of trans-stadial and intrastadial transmission competence of Theileria equi by ticks.
  • The tick infestation period on the horse was experimentally set to 33 days, although note was made of male ticks being present up to 60 days post-infestation.
  • After the fifth day post-infestation, ticks and horse blood were collected every two days for analysis. The various stages of ticks collected on the same day were grouped together.
  • DNA extraction was performed on the samples, which were then submitted to quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) tests for Theileria equi diagnosis.

Findings

  • The study found that freshly molted nymphs collected as larvae on the horse, and freshly molted males/females collected as nymphs on the horse, showed equal to or above 75% positivity for Theileria equi. This suggested the strong potential for trans-stadial transmission.
  • Considering the longer presence of male ticks on the horse and their high Theileria equi positivity rate, the study also pointed to the possibility of males playing a role in intrastadial transmission to infection-free horses.
  • Moreover, salivary glands showed a 77.78% positivity for Theileria equi, particularly towards the end of the experimental period where the infection rate reached 100%.
  • The tick species, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, was found to have high infection rates of Theileria equi, with both the infection rate and parasitic load increasing over the experimental period.

Conclusion

  • Overall, the results highlight the importance of chronically infected horses as a source of infection for the discussed tick species thereby providing insight into the dynamics of Theileria equi infection. Further research could be vital to develop preventive measures against these infectious agents in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Peckle M, Santos H, Pires M, Silva C, Costa R, Vitari G, Camilo T, Meireles N, Paulino P, Massard C. (2022). Dynamics of Theileria equi Infection in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus during the Parasitic Phase in a Chronically Infected Horse. Pathogens, 11(5), 525. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11050525

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 5
PII: 525

Researcher Affiliations

Peckle, Maristela
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Santos, Huarrisson
  • Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Pires, Marcus
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Silva, Claudia
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Costa, Renata
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Vitari, Gabriela
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Camilo, Tays
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Meireles, Nelson
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Paulino, Patrícia
  • Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.
Massard, Carlos
  • Department of Animal Parasitology, Veterinary Institute, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro-UFRRJ, Seropedica, Rio de Janeiro 23897-970, Brazil.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Díaz-Sánchez AA, Obregón D, Santos HA, Corona-González B. Advances in the Epidemiological Surveillance of Tick-Borne Pathogens.. Pathogens 2023 Apr 23;12(5).
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  2. Onzere CK, Herndon DR, Hassan A, Oyen K, Poh KC, Scoles GA, Fry LM. A U.S. Isolate of Theileria orientalis Ikeda Is Not Transstadially Transmitted to Cattle by Rhipicephalus microplus.. Pathogens 2023 Apr 5;12(4).
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  3. Paulino PG, Peckle M, Mendonça LP, Massard CL, Antunes S, Couto J, Domingos A, Guedes Junior DDS, Cabezas-Cruz A, Santos HA. Differential Expression of Immune Genes in the Rhipicephalus microplus Gut in Response to Theileria equi Infection.. Pathogens 2022 Dec 6;11(12).
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