Genetic characteristics of Theileria equi in zebras, wild and domestic donkeys in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an important tick-borne disease of equids, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. It is endemic in most parts of the world, including Israel, and has clinical and economic consequences. This study was set to evaluate the presence of EP parasites in domestic donkeys and in wild equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA). To assess subclinical EP infection in 98 domestic donkeys (Equus africanus asinus), 9 Asiatic wild donkeys (Equus hemionus), 8 zebras (Equus quagga), 7 African wild donkeys (Equus africanus) and 5 mules, were tested using PCR and qPCR. Positive samples were characterized by amplification and sequencing of a 1600 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene. Babesia caballi was not detected in any of the animals. Theileria equi was detected in 32% of the donkeys, 89% of Asiatic wild donkeys, 57% of African wild donkeys, 62% of zebras and none of the mules. Parasitemia was low in all of the positive samples. Risk factors associated with infection in donkeys included one farm (Kiryat Gat) and animal sex (male). The sequences of the 18S rRNA gene from domestic donkeys were all similar, and belonged to the T. equi genotype D, similar to the genotype sequenced from horses in the same area, while sequences from wild donkeys were unique and belonged to the T. equi genotype A. Verification of the T. equi genotype in zebras could not be concluded, suggesting major genetic variation.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-09-04 PubMed ID: 31537490DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101286Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Management
- Disease Outbreaks
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Transmission
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Genotyping
- Infectious Disease
- Piroplasmosis
- Theileria equi
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This research explores the presence and genetic traits of Equine piroplasmosis (EP), a tick-borne disease, in domestic donkeys, wild donkeys, and zebras in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The study findings suggest varying occurrences of the Theileria equi parasite in these animals, with domestic donkeys accompanying a different genotype than wild ones.
Study Design
- The research aim was to evaluate the presence of Equine piroplasmosis (EP) parasites such as Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in domestic donkeys, wild donkeys, and zebras in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
- A total of 127 animals which included domestic donkeys, Asiatic wild donkeys, zebras, African wild donkeys, and mules were tested for subclinical EP infection using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods.
- When a positive sample was identified, it was further analyzed by amplifying and sequencing a 1600 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene, a characteristic genetic structure of these parasites.
Findings
- No traces of Babesia caballi were found in any of the animals.
- Theileria equi was detected in varying ratios in different animals: 32% of the donkeys, 89% of Asiatic wild donkeys, 57% of African wild donkeys, and 62% of zebras. It was not detected in any of the mule samples.
- Parasitemia, which is the level of parasites in the blood, was low across all positive samples.
- In donkeys, infection was associated with one particular farm (Kiryat Gat) and male sex.
Molecular Genetics
- The sequences of the 18S rRNA gene from domestic donkeys were found to be similar and belonged to Theileria equi genotype D. This genotype was akin to the one found in horses in the same area.
- Contrarily, sequences from wild donkeys were unique and belonged to Theileria equi genotype A.
- The Theileria equi genotype in zebras could not be definitively determined suggesting a significant genetic variation in these samples.
This study presents novel findings regarding the genetic characteristics and presence of EP in different types of equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. It underscores the importance of examining disease vectors among different species to better understand the spread and control of disease. The findings could influence the development of management strategies and treatments for Equine piroplasmosis.
Cite This Article
APA
Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Arieli O, Mazuz ML, King R, Horowitz I, Steinman A.
(2019).
Genetic characteristics of Theileria equi in zebras, wild and domestic donkeys in Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 11(1), 101286.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2019.101286 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O.B 12, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel. Electronic address: sharontirosh@gmail.com.
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O.B 12, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel. Electronic address: gottlieb.yuval@mail.huji.ac.il.
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O.B 12, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel. Electronic address: oriarieli6@gmail.com.
- Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, P.O.B 12, Bet Dagan, 50250, Israel. Electronic address: MonicaL@moag.gov.il.
- Israel Nature and Parks Authority, 3 Am Ve'Olamo St., Jerusalem, 95463, Israel. Electronic address: king@npa.org.il.
- Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan & Israeli Wildlife Hospital at the Zoological Center Tel Aviv-Ramat Gan, 1 HaTsvi Ave., Ramat Gan, 52109, Israel. Electronic address: igal@safari.co.il.
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O.B 12, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel. Electronic address: amirst@savion.huji.ac.il.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Wild
- Animals, Zoo
- Equidae
- Female
- Israel / epidemiology
- Male
- Middle East / epidemiology
- Prevalence
- Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Species Specificity
- Theileria / genetics
- Theileria / isolation & purification
- Theileriasis / epidemiology
- Theileriasis / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Kamran K, Akbar A, Naseem M, Samad A, Samiullah, Achakzai JK, Rehman ZU, Sohail Sajid M, Ali A. Participatory appraisal for healthcare and welfare management strategies of donkeys (Equus ascinus) in Balochistan, Pakistan.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1005079.
- Giubega S, Ilie MS, Luca I, Florea T, Dreghiciu C, Oprescu I, Morariu S, Dărăbuș G. Seroprevalence of Anti-Theileria equi Antibodies in Horses from Three Geographically Distinct Areas of Romania.. Pathogens 2022 Jun 9;11(6).
- Ji N, Chen X, Liu G, Zhao S, Tan W, Liu G, Zhang J, Wang Y. Theileria, Hepatozoon and Taenia infection in great gerbils (Rhombomys opimus) in northwestern China.. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2021 Aug;15:79-86.
- Tirosh-Levy S, Mazuz ML, Savitsky I, Pinkas D, Gottlieb Y, Steinman A. Serological and Molecular Prevalence of Babesia caballi in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel.. Pathogens 2021 Apr 8;10(4).
- Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Fry LM, Knowles DP, Steinman A. Twenty Years of Equine Piroplasmosis Research: Global Distribution, Molecular Diagnosis, and Phylogeny.. Pathogens 2020 Nov 8;9(11).
- Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Levy H, Katz Y, Shtilman M, Gottlieb Y. Parasite load and genotype are associated with clinical outcome of piroplasm-infected equines in Israel.. Parasit Vectors 2020 May 20;13(1):267.
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