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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Genetic Characterization of Piroplasms in Donkeys and Horses...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(2); 324; doi: 10.3390/ani10020324

Genetic Characterization of Piroplasms in Donkeys and Horses from Nigeria.

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of equids, caused by the two haemoprotozoal parasites: and Nigeria constitutes a major crossroads of animal transport in West Africa and may serve as a factor in EP dissemination in the region. The study aim was to characterize EP parasites in donkeys and horses in northern Nigeria using a molecular approach. Blood was collected from 57 donkeys and 47 horses. EP infection was detected and characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twenty five donkeys (43.8%) were infected with , five (8.8%) with three (5.3%) with dual infections. Four horses (8.5%) were infected by and none by . Four of the five known genotypes (A, B, C and D) were identified. and genes were amplified in only 2 and 10 samples, respectively, showing no genetic variation. All isolates were classified as genotype A1. Twenty-two (42.3%) of the donkeys were positive for anti- antibodies and 29 (55.8%) were positive for anti- antibodies, using immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The study results demonstrate high genetic variation within parasites, suggesting that donkeys may be reservoirs of EP parasites in West Africa.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-18 PubMed ID: 32085574PubMed Central: PMC7070495DOI: 10.3390/ani10020324Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research studied the genetic variations of equine piroplasmosis (EP) parasites in donkeys and horses in Nigeria, finding high genetic variation and suggesting donkeys could be potential carriers of these parasites.

Introduction

  • Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease affecting equids such as donkeys and horses.
  • The disease is caused by two types of haemoprotozoal parasites: Theileria equi and Babesia caballi.
  • Nigeria’s position as a major crossroad of animal transport in West Africa may contribute to the spread of EP in the region.

Methodology

  • The study aimed to genetically characterize EP parasites in northern Nigerian donkeys and horses.
  • Blood samples were collected from 57 donkeys and 47 horses and the infections were detected and characterized using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

  • 25 donkeys (43.8%) were infected with Theileria equi, and 5 (8.8%) with Babesia caballi; three donkeys (5.3%) had dual infections.
  • 4 horses (8.5%) were infected with Theileria equi, but none by Babesia caballi.
  • Four of the five known genotypes of Theileria equi (A, B, C, and D) were identified in the samples.
  • The EMA-1 and EMA-2 genes of Theileria equi were amplified in only 2 and 10 samples, respectively, and showed no genetic variation.
  • All Theileria equi isolates were classified as genotype A1.

Conclusion

  • According to the results, 42.3% of the donkeys were positive for anti-Babesia caballi antibodies and 55.8% had anti-Theileria equi antibodies, as demonstrated by an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT).
  • This study reveals a high genetic variation within Theileria equi parasites. This suggests that donkeys might play a significant role as reservoirs for these EP parasites in West Africa.

Cite This Article

APA
Sunday Idoko I, Tirosh-Levy S, Leszkowicz Mazuz M, Mohammed Adam B, Sikiti Garba B, Wesley Nafarnda D, Steinman A. (2020). Genetic Characterization of Piroplasms in Donkeys and Horses from Nigeria. Animals (Basel), 10(2), 324. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020324

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 2
PII: 324

Researcher Affiliations

Sunday Idoko, Idoko
  • Department of Veterinary Pathology, University of Abuja, Abuja 900001, Nigeria.
Tirosh-Levy, Sharon
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
Leszkowicz Mazuz, Monica
  • Division of Parasitology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel.
Mohammed Adam, Babagana
  • African Institute of One Health Research and Diagnostics, Abuja 900001, Nigeria.
Sikiti Garba, Bello
  • United Nations Children Fund, Yola 640101, Nigeria.
Wesley Nafarnda, Daniel
  • Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Abuja, Abuja 900001, Nigeria.
Steinman, Amir
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 9 times.
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