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Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases2010; 10(7); 963-968; doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2010.06.008

Genetic diversity of equine piroplasms in Greece with a note on speciation within Theileria genotypes (T. equi and T. equi-like).

Abstract: Equine piroplasms in Greece were studied using the reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) assay. Three genotypes consisting of two Theileria (T. equi and T. equi-like) and one Babesia (B. caballi-like) were identified. Of 787 samples tested, 371 (47.14%) hybridised to catchall probe (probe specifically designed to capture any piroplasm species present in a sample), 346 (43.96%) to T. equi probe, 364 (46.25%) to T. equi-like probe, 0 (0%) to B. caballi probe and 3 (0.38%) to B. caballi-like probe. Seven samples gave faint signals with the catchall probe only, indicating the presence of known or unknown piroplasm species, or a novel genotype or a known genotype occurring at a very low level of parasitemia. A partial sequence (509 bp) of the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene of a T. equi-like isolate showed only 99% similarity with the reference T. equi-like isolates from Northern Spain from which the detecting probe used in the present study was designed but showed 100% similarity with the T. equi-like variants from Southern Spain. This indicated a noticeable degree of polymorphism within the population of T. equi-like. No unusual parasites previously reported in horses, such as B. canis canis and B. bovis were detected in this study. The values of the bioclimatic variables were very similar between the geographic locations for T. equi and T. equi-like genotypes, suggesting the two are not yet different species as hypothesized by some authors but are possibly undergoing a speciation process within Theileria genotypes. Both T. equi and T. equi-like were found in predominantly forest type land cover.
Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2010-06-19 PubMed ID: 20601168DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2010.06.008Google 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.

This research focuses on the genetic diversity of equine piroplasms, particularly of the Theileria genotypes, in Greece. Through a specific type of testing called reverse line blot hybridization assay, the research found that the detected Theileria genotypes were not distinct species, but are possibly undergoing a speciation process.

Research Methodology

  • The research was carried out by studying equine piroplasms in Greece through a method known as the reverse line blot hybridization (RLB) assay. This method allowed the researchers to identify different genotypes of the disease within the samples.
  • In total, 787 samples were tested, and from these, three specific genotypes were identified – two of the Theileria genus (T. equi and T. equi-like), and one of the Babesia genus (B.caballi-like).

Findings of the Study

  • Among the tested samples, around 47.14% hybridized to a generalized ‘catchall’ probe, designed to capture any present piroplasm species, 43.96% to the T. equi probe and 46.25% to the T. equi-like probe. For the B. caballi probe, however, there was no hybridization, but around 0.38% did hybridize to the B. caballi-like probe.
  • Seven samples gave faint signals with the catchall probe, indicating the presence of either known or unknown piroplasm species, a new genotype, or a known genotype occurring at a very low parasitic level.
  • A sequence of the V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene of a T. equi-like isolate revealed a significant degree of polymorphism within the detected genotypes. While similarity with a reference T. equi-like isolate was only 99%, similarity with the variants from Southern Spain was 100%. This suggest a degree of geographic variation within the genotypes.
  • No unusual parasites previously reported in horses were detected in this study.

Speciation in Theileria Genotypes

  • In comparing bioclimatic variables across different geographic locations, the values were found to be very similar between instances of T. equi and T. equi-like genotypes. This suggests that the two are not yet distinct species, as some authors have suggested, but are possibly undergoing a speciation process within the Theileria genus.
  • Both T. equi and T. equi-like were found to be primarily located within forest type land cover.

Cite This Article

APA
Kouam MK, Kantzoura V, Masuoka PM, Gajadhar AA, Theodoropoulos G. (2010). Genetic diversity of equine piroplasms in Greece with a note on speciation within Theileria genotypes (T. equi and T. equi-like). Infect Genet Evol, 10(7), 963-968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2010.06.008

Publication

Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases
ISSN: 1567-7257
NlmUniqueID: 101084138
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 7
Pages: 963-968

Researcher Affiliations

Kouam, Marc K
  • Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Hydrobiology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece.
Kantzoura, Vaia
    Masuoka, Penny M
      Gajadhar, Alvin A
        Theodoropoulos, Georgios

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Babesia / classification
          • Babesia / genetics
          • Genetic Variation
          • Genotype
          • Greece / epidemiology
          • Horse Diseases / parasitology
          • Horses
          • Theileria / classification
          • Theileria / genetics
          • Theileriasis / epidemiology
          • Theileriasis / parasitology

          Citations

          This article has been cited 9 times.
          1. Galon EM, Macalanda AM, Garcia MM, Ibasco CJ, Garvida A, Ji S, Zafar I, Hasegawa Y, Liu M, Ybañez RH, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Ybañez A, Claveria F, Xuan X. Molecular Identification of Selected Tick-Borne Protozoan and Bacterial Pathogens in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Cavite, Philippines. Pathogens 2021 Oct 13;10(10).
            doi: 10.3390/pathogens10101318pubmed: 34684266google scholar: lookup
          2. Efstratiou A, Karanis G, Karanis P. Tick-Borne Pathogens and Diseases in Greece. Microorganisms 2021 Aug 14;9(8).
            doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9081732pubmed: 34442811google scholar: lookup
          3. 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).
            doi: 10.3390/pathogens9110926pubmed: 33171698google scholar: lookup
          4. Zhao S, Wang H, Zhang S, Xie S, Li H, Zhang X, Jia L. First report of genetic diversity and risk factor analysis of equine piroplasm infection in equids in Jilin, China. Parasit Vectors 2020 Sep 9;13(1):459.
            doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04338-1pubmed: 32907616google scholar: lookup
          5. Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 May 16;16(10).
            doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101736pubmed: 31100920google scholar: lookup
          6. Facile V, Magliocca M, Dini FM, Imposimato I, Mariella J, Freccero F, Urbani L, Rinnovati R, Sel E, Gallina L, Castagnetti C, Galuppi R, Battilani M, Balboni A. Molecular Diagnosis and Identification of Equine Piroplasms: Challenges and Insights from a Study in Northern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2025 Feb 5;15(3).
            doi: 10.3390/ani15030437pubmed: 39943207google scholar: lookup
          7. Cui Y, Cao M, Yu F, Zhao A, Tao D, Zhu T, Zhang Z, Qi M. Molecular detection of piroplasms in domestic donkeys in Xinjiang, China. Vet Med Sci 2024 Jul;10(4):e1468.
            doi: 10.1002/vms3.1468pubmed: 38879882google scholar: lookup
          8. Nehra AK, Kumari A, Moudgil AD, Vohra S. Revisiting the genotypes of Theileria equi based on the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1303090.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1303090pubmed: 38560630google scholar: lookup
          9. Jongejan F, Du C, Papadopoulos E, Blanda V, Di Bella S, Cannella V, Guercio A, Vicari D, Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Baneth G, van Keulen S, Hulsebos I, Berger L, Wang X. Diagnostic performance of a rapid immunochromatographic test for the simultaneous detection of antibodies to Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses and donkeys. Parasit Vectors 2024 Mar 28;17(1):160.
            doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06253-1pubmed: 38549117google scholar: lookup
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