Molecular detection of equine trypanosomiasis in the Riyadh Province of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract: We conducted a cross-sectional study to detect trypanosome infections of horses and donkeys in the Riyadh Province of Saudi Arabia. DNA was extracted from blood samples collected from 368 horses and 142 donkeys, and subjected to universal first ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region (ITS1)-PCR followed by Trypanosoma evansi species-specific RoTat1.2-PCR. The universal ITS1-PCR revealed T. evansi infection in horses ( n = 12; 3.3%) and donkeys ( n = 4; 2.8%). There was no significant effect of sex or age on the prevalence of trypanosomiasis in horses or donkeys. Application of the RoTat1.2-PCR revealed that the RoTat1.2 VSG gene was absent from the positive ITS1-PCR samples of 3 horses and 1 donkey. This discrepancy could be explained by the circulation of T. evansi type B in Saudi Arabia; however, this suspicion requires confirmation.
Publication Date: 2018-09-11 PubMed ID: 30204053PubMed Central: PMC6505846DOI: 10.1177/1040638718798688Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research has identified the presence of Trypanosoma evansi, the parasite causing trypanosomiasis, in horses and donkeys in the Riyadh Province of Saudi Arabia. Using two types of PCR (Molecular detection methods), the team discovered the infection amongst a number of sampled animals, with no significant correlation to age or sex of the animals.
Research Methodology
- The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study for the detection of trypanosomiasis, a parasitic disease, in horses and donkeys.
- Blood samples were extracted from 368 horses and 142 donkeys. This makes for a total sample size of 510 animals.
- The researchers used two types of molecular tests for detection: First Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer Region Polymerase Chain Reaction (ITS1-PCR) followed by a Trypanosoma evansi specific RoTat1.2-PCR.
Research Findings
- The results from the universal ITS1-PCR revealed the presence of T. evansi in both horses(3.3% prevalence, i.e., 12 out of 368) and donkeys(2.8% prevalence, i.e., 4 out of 142).
- The study did not find any significant effect of either the animals’ sex or age on the prevalence of trypanosomiasis.
- Upon application of the RoTat1.2-PCR test, a discrepancy was discovered. The RoTat1.2 Variable Surface Glycoprotein (VSG) gene was absent from the positive ITS1-PCR samples of 3 horses and one donkey.
Deductions and Further Speculations
- This discrepancy between the tests suggested the possible circulation of T. evansi type B in Saudi Arabia. T. evansi type B is a variant of the parasite that does not express the RoTat1.2 VSG.
- However, this suspicion remains to be confirmed as it is only a hypothesis drawn from this study.
Significance of the Study
- This study contributes to the understanding of the distribution and prevalence of trypanosomiasis in Saudi Arabia, particularly in the Riyadh province.
- The findings could potentially influence future surveillance and control strategies for trypanosomiasis in the region.
Cite This Article
APA
Alanazi AD, Puschendorf R, Salim B, Alyousif MS, Alanazi IO, Al-Shehri HR.
(2018).
Molecular detection of equine trypanosomiasis in the Riyadh Province of Saudi Arabia.
J Vet Diagn Invest, 30(6), 942-945.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1040638718798688 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK (Puschendorf).
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan (Salim).
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alyousif).
- The National Center for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK (Al-shehri).
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK (Puschendorf).
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan (Salim).
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alyousif).
- The National Center for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK (Al-shehri).
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK (Puschendorf).
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan (Salim).
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alyousif).
- The National Center for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK (Al-shehri).
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK (Puschendorf).
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan (Salim).
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alyousif).
- The National Center for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK (Al-shehri).
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK (Puschendorf).
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan (Salim).
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alyousif).
- The National Center for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK (Al-shehri).
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK (Puschendorf).
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Sudan (Salim).
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alyousif).
- The National Center for Biotechnology, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
- Department of Parasitology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK (Al-shehri).
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science and Humanities, Shaqra University, Ad-Dawadimi, Saudi Arabia (Alanazi).
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Equidae
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Phylogeny
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
- Trypanosoma / genetics
- Trypanosoma / isolation & purification
- Trypanosomiasis / epidemiology
- Trypanosomiasis / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Suprihati E, Suwanti LT, Yudhana A, Kusumaningrum AI. Comparison of ITS-1 and TBR-1/2 primer sensitivity for the detection of Trypanosoma evansi local isolates in experimental rats using a polymerase chain reaction. Vet World 2022 Jul;15(7):1772-1778.
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