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Veterinary medicine and science2021; 7(6); 2219-2224; doi: 10.1002/vms3.613

Molecular identification of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Rickettsia in adult ticks from North of Xinjiang, China.

Abstract: Ticks in Xinjiang distribute widely and account for one third of China. Ticks can carry and transmit bacteria, virus, and parasite. However, the research of tick-borne pathogens in Xinjiang is rather little. To understand the situation of hard tick carry Theileria equi, Babesia caballi and Rickettsia spp. of Zhaosu and Altay in Xinjiang. In this study, 119 tick samples were obtained from horses in Xinjiang, China, Ticks were identified morphologically to determine species and PCR was used to investigate the situation of pathogens by hard ticks. One hundred and seven belong to Dermacentor marginatus, five belong to D. niveus, and seven belong to D. silvarum. Theileria equi and Babesia caballi were detected in one tick and 18 ticks, respectively. However, the carrying rate of Rickettsia spp. was 51.26% (61/119). Among these, the mixed carriage rate of T. equi and Rickettsia spp. was 0.8% (1/119). The mixed carriage rate of B. caballi and Rickettsia spp. was 10.1% (12/119). Our results revealed that hard tick can carry not only haeimoparasite but also many important zoonotic pathogens in Xinjiang, and this situation was worth heeding.
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2021-08-26 PubMed ID: 34448371PubMed Central: PMC8604137DOI: 10.1002/vms3.613Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research aims to determine the pathogens that ticks in Xinjiang, China carry and transmit, particularly focusing on Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Rickettsia species. The study took 119 tick samples and used morphological identification and PCR methods to discover that not only do ticks in the area carry haemoparasites but also several important zoonotic pathogens.

Study Setup and Methodology

  • The study was conducted in Xinjiang, China, which constitutes around one third of the whole country and has an extensive distribution of ticks.
  • 119 tick samples were taken from horses in the region for the purpose of the study.
  • The species of ticks were identified morphologically. Morphological identification involves the use of distinct physical features and characteristics to classify and differentiate species.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a common laboratory technique used to make copies of a specific DNA segment, was used to investigate the presence of pathogens in the hard ticks.

Findings and Results

  • Of the 119 samples, 107 were found to be Dermacentor marginatus, five were D. niveus, and seven were D. silvarum.
  • The Theileria equi parasite was detected in one tick sample, and the Babesia caballi parasite was found in 18 tick samples.
  • About 51.26% (61 tick samples) were found to carry Rickettsia species.
  • The study further shows that there was a mixed carriage rate of 0.8% for T. equi and Rickettsia species, and a 10.1% mixed carriage rate for B. caballi and Rickettsia species.

Implications of the Study

  • The results of this study demonstrate that ticks in Xinjiang not only carry haemoparasites – parasites that live in the blood of their hosts – like T. equi and B. caballi, but also a significant number of zoonotic pathogens, including the Rickettsia species.
  • Zoonotic pathogens are disease-causing germs that can be transmitted from animals to humans, thereby posing a significant risk to human health.
  • Hence, the study highlights a potentially serious public health concern in the region and suggests that the situation requires careful attention.

Cite This Article

APA
Zhang Y, Wen X, Xiao P, Fan X, Li M, Chahan B. (2021). Molecular identification of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Rickettsia in adult ticks from North of Xinjiang, China. Vet Med Sci, 7(6), 2219-2224. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.613

Publication

Veterinary medicine and science
ISSN: 2053-1095
NlmUniqueID: 101678837
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 7
Issue: 6
Pages: 2219-2224

Researcher Affiliations

Zhang, Yang
  • Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China.
  • MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Wen, Xiuxiu
  • Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China.
Xiao, Peipei
  • Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China.
Fan, Xinli
  • Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China.
Li, Min
  • Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China.
Chahan, Bayin
  • Department of Animal Parasitological, Xinjiang Agricultural University School of Veterinary, Uygur, XinJiang, China.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia
  • China / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Rickettsia / genetics
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Ticks / microbiology
  • Ticks / parasitology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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