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Home / Equine Research Bank / Iran J Parasitol / Microscopic and Molecular Detection of Theileria (Babesia) E...
Iranian journal of parasitology2016; 11(1); 86-90;

Microscopic and Molecular Detection of Theileria (Babesia) Equi Infection in Equids of Kurdistan Province, Iran.

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is the cause of persistent tick-borne infection with no symptoms, but the most important problem of EP is due to the persistent carrier state. Carrier animals to Babesia (Theileria) equi (Laveran 1901) and B. caballi (Nuttall, 1910) infestation could be identified by extremely sensitive PCR-based method. The purpose of this study was to identify the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis based on molecular and microscopic assays in equids from Kurdistan Province, Iran. Methods: Thirty one horse and mule blood samples were used with history of living in Kurdistan Province of Iran. The blood specimens were utilized for T. equi and B. caballi DNA identification by PCR and Giemsa stained smears for microscopic observation. Results: The results clearly showed the presence of B. (Theileria) equi DNA in 30 of 31 blood samples (96.77%), but the microscopic examination revealed the 3 of 31 positive Babesia like organisms in the red blood cells (9.67%). Conclusions: The obtained results demonstrated the presence of hidden B. (Theileria) equi infection in horses with previous habitance in Kurdistan Province of Iran. The carrier animals became a main source of infection and can transmit the disease. Therefore, hidden infection might be considered as a health threatening and limiting factor in animals used in therapeutic antisera research and production centers.
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Publication Date: 2016-04-21 PubMed ID: 27095973PubMed Central: PMC4835474
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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 study provides findings on the detection and impact of a tick-borne infection called Equine piroplasmosis (EP) in horses from Kurdistan Province, Iran. The presence of Babesia (Theileria) equi, one of the causative agents of EP, was established through a PCR-based testing and microscopic examination on blood samples.

Study Purpose and Methodology

  • This research aimed to identify the presence of the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis, specifically Babesia (Theileria) equi and B. caballi, using molecular and microscopic assays. The study was conducted on horses in the Kurdistan Province of Iran.
  • The research team investigated thirty one blood samples, all from horses and mules with a history of residence in the region.
  • The molecular identification of B. equi and B. caballi DNA was carried out using a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based method. Microscopic observation was also done on Giemsa stained smears.

Study Findings

  • The results indicated that B. equi DNA was present in 30 out of the 31 blood samples, which is a significant percentage (96.77%).
  • Through microscopic examination, Babesia-like organisms were spotted in the red blood cells of only 3 of the 31 samples (9.67%). This highlights the superior sensitivity of the PCR-based method in detecting the infection.

Significance and Implications

  • The research confirmed the presence of a hidden infection of B. equi in horses in the Kurdistan region of Iran.
  • As carrier animals, these horses can further transmit the disease, making it a critical health risk. The presence of asymptomatic carrier animals also presents limitations in animals used in research and production centers for therapeutic antisera.
  • This research emphasizes the importance of taking the hidden infection into account during diagnosis as these asymptomatic carrier animals can unknowingly spread the disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Habibi G, Esmaeilnia K, Hablolvarid MH, Afshari A, Zamen M, Bozorgi S. (2016). Microscopic and Molecular Detection of Theileria (Babesia) Equi Infection in Equids of Kurdistan Province, Iran. Iran J Parasitol, 11(1), 86-90.

Publication

Iranian journal of parasitology
ISSN: 1735-7020
NlmUniqueID: 101464309
Country: Iran
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Pages: 86-90

Researcher Affiliations

Habibi, Gholamreza
  • Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Esmaeilnia, Kasra
  • Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Hablolvarid, Mohammad Hasan
  • Dept. of Pathology of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Afshari, Asghar
  • Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Zamen, Mohsen
  • Dept. of Immunization of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Bozorgi, Soghra
  • Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. 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
  2. Khamesipour F, Taktaz-Hafshejani T, Tebit KE, Razavi SM, Hosseini SR. Prevalence of endo- and ecto-parasites of equines in Iran: A systematic review. Vet Med Sci 2021 Jan;7(1):25-34.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.321pubmed: 32644306google scholar: lookup
  3. Haghi MM, Etemadifar F, Fakhar M, Teshnizi SH, Soosaraei M, Shokri A, Hajihasani A, Mashhadi H. Status of babesiosis among domestic herbivores in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasitol Res 2017 Apr;116(4):1101-1109.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-016-5368-8pubmed: 28054180google scholar: lookup
  4. Mohammad-Naseri A, Shokrani H, Rahmani-Shahraki A. Equine Piroplasmosis in Asymptomatic Horses of Western Iran: Comparison of Microscopic Examination and Multiplex PCR. Acta Parasitol 2024 Mar;69(1):813-818.
    doi: 10.1007/s11686-024-00804-3pubmed: 38424400google scholar: lookup
  5. Sazmand A, Bahari A, Papi S, Otranto D. Parasitic diseases of equids in Iran (1931-2020): a literature review. Parasit Vectors 2020 Nov 19;13(1):586.
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