Molecular survey and genetic diversity of piroplasmids in equids from Midwestern Brazil.
Abstract: We evaluated the distribution of piroplasmids in equids from the Mato Grosso state in Midwestern Brazil using molecular methods and the interspecific genetic diversity. For this, 1,624 blood samples of equids from 973 farms were examined by PCR, using primer pairs that amplify a fragment of the genes rap-1 and ema-1 of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, respectively. For molecular characterization and phylogenetic studies, 13 and 60 sequences of the rap-1 and ema-1 genes, respectively, were used to build a dendogram using maximum parsimony. B. caballi and T. equi were detected in 4.11% and 28.16% of the farms, respectively, and molecular prevalence was 2.74% for B. caballi and 25.91% for T. equi. The location of the farms and animals raised in the Pantanal ecoregion influence the probability of equids testing positive for B. caballi and T. equi . Moreover, age and herd purpose were variables significantly associated with T . equi infection. The sequences of B. caballi presented 1.95% intraspecific variability, contrasting with 2.99% in T. equi. Dendrograms for both species demonstrated the presence of subgroups with high values of support of branches. However, it is not possible to associate these groups with geographic origin and/or ecoregion.
Publication Date: 2018-08-30 PubMed ID: 30183997DOI: 10.1590/S1984-296120180048Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Diagnosis
- Disease control
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Disease Treatment
- Equids
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Genetics
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Molecular biology
- Piroplasmosis
- Theileria equi
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
- Zoonotic Diseases
Summary
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The research focused on analyzing the prevalence and genetic diversity of piroplasmids, particularly Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, in equids from Mato Grosso state in Midwestern Brazil. The study found variable rates of prevalence with certain factors influencing the likelihood of equids testing positive for these infections.
Research Methods
- The researchers examined 1,624 blood samples taken from equids from 973 farms.
- They used molecular methods, specifically Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), utilising a set of primers that detect genes related to B. caballi and T. equi.
- Sequences of identified genes were studied for understanding genetic diversity and establishing phylogenetic relationships.
- A total of 13 and 60 sequences of the rap-1 and ema-1 genes respectively were used for building a phylogenetic tree.
Findings
- The study found B. caballi and T. equi on 4.11% and 28.16% of farms respectively.
- Molecular prevalence was 2.74% for B. caballi and 25.91% for T. equi.
- The probability of equids testing positive for B. caballi and T. equi was found to be influenced by the location of the farms and whether the animals were raised in the Pantanal ecoregion.
- Other factors like age and herd purpose were significantly associated with T. equi infection.
Genetic Diversity of Piroplasmids
- B. caballi sequences exhibited 1.95% intraspecific variability, while T. equi showed 2.99% variability.
- The dendrogram showed subgroups within both species with high degrees of branch support, indicating distinct genetic groupings within each species.
- However, these subgroups could not be linked with specific geographic origins or ecoregions.
The research provides valuable insights into the prevalence and genetic diversity of piroplasmids in equids in Midwestern Brazil, which could help devise better preventive and control strategies for these parasitic infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Schein FB, Maia MO, Witter R, Marcili A, Camargo LM, Dutra V, Nakazato L, Candido SL, Almeida EM, Oliveira ACS, Pacheco RC.
(2018).
Molecular survey and genetic diversity of piroplasmids in equids from Midwestern Brazil.
Rev Bras Parasitol Vet, 27(4), 464-472.
https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-296120180048 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Faculdade de Medicine Veterinária, Universidade de Cuiabá - UNIC, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Instituto Federal de Rondônia - IFRO, Jaru, RO, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina e Bem-Estar Animal, Universidade de Santo Amaro - UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
- Faculdade de Medicine Veterinária, Universidade de Cuiabá - UNIC, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Departamento de Estatística, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Departamento de Estatística, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Veterinárias - PPGVET, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária - FAVET, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT, Brasil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesia / genetics
- Babesiosis / diagnosis
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- Babesiosis / parasitology
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Genetic Variation / genetics
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Phylogeny
- Prevalence
- Species Specificity
- Theileria / genetics
- Theileriasis / diagnosis
- Theileriasis / epidemiology
- Theileriasis / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Torres R, Hurtado C, Pérez-Macchi S, Bittencourt P, Freschi C, de Mello VVC, Machado RZ, André MR, Müller A. Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Chilean Thoroughbred Racing Horses. Pathogens 2021 Jun 7;10(6).
- 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.
- Smith RM, Bhoora RV, Kotzé A, Grobler JP, Lee Dalton D. Translocation a potential corridor for equine piroplasms in Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019 Aug;9:130-133.
- Fernandes TA, Paulino PG, Dos Santos Juliano D, Rabello CA, de Oliveira NVB, de Souza Santana M, Peckle M, Massard CL, da Costa Angelo I, Jacob JCF, Santos HA. Epidemiology and genetic diversity of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in draft horses in the Distrito Federal, Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 Feb 19;57(2):72.
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