FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Medical and veterinary entomology2020; 34(3); 291-294; doi: 10.1111/mve.12435

Potential tick vectors for Theileria equi in Israel.

Abstract: Theileria equi Mehlhorn and Schein, 1998 (Piroplasmida: Babesiidae) is an important tick-borne pathogen of horses that is highly endemic in many parts of the world, including Israel. The present study evaluated the potential roles of five hard tick species [Hyalomma excavatum Koch, 1844; Hyalomma marginatum Koch, 1844; Rhipicephalus turanicus Pomerantsev 1936; Rhipicephalus annulatus Say, 1821; Haemaphysalis parva (Neumann, 1897) (all: Ixodida: Ixodidae)], previously found to infest horses in Israel, in acting as vectors for piroplasmosis. For this, DNA was extracted from whole ticks and, when possible, from the salivary glands in each species (n = 10-59). Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene were used to detect T. equi in 48 of the 127 ticks (37.8%) and in 21 of the 90 extracted salivary glands (23.3%) in all five species. All but two sequences were classified as T. equi genotype A; the remaining two were classified as genotype D. The findings of this study point to Ha. parva and R. annulatus as potential novel vectors of T. equi, and suggest that parasite genotype selection occurs within the tick vector.
© 2020 The Royal Entomological Society.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2020-02-27 PubMed ID: 32107816DOI: 10.1111/mve.12435Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 article seeks to identify potential carriers of Theileria equi, a tick-borne pathogen affecting horses, specifically within the Israeli region. It elucidates the fact that out of five hard tick species that afflict horses in this region, all of them were identified as potential vectors for this disease, potentially pointing towards Ha. parva and R. annulatus as new carriers.

Methodology

  • The researchers studied five species of hard ticks typically found on horses in Israel: Hyalomma excavatum, Hyalomma marginatum, Rhipicephalus turanicus, Rhipicephalus annulatus, and Haemaphysalis parva.
  • They extracted DNA from whole ticks as well as, when possible, from the salivary glands of each species in varying numbers between 10 and 59.
  • They used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene to detect presence of Theileria equi in the ticks.

Findings

  • T. equi was found in 48 out of the 127 ticks (37.8%) sampled and in 21 of the 90 extracted salivary glands (23.3%) across all five species.
  • All but two sequences were classified as T. equi genotype A; the other two were classified as genotype D, indicating a possibility of parasite genotype selection within the tick vector.
  • The findings suggest that Ha. parva and R. annulatus could potentially be new vectors for T. equi.

Implications

  • This study enhances our understanding of the potential vectors for Theileria equi, facilitating development of effective prevention and treatment strategies in areas where these ticks are endemic.
  • The suggestion of parasite genotype selection within the tick vector could have significant implications for the evolution and spread of the disease.
  • The potential identification of Ha. parva and R. annulatus as novel vectors of T. equi warrants further research into their role and the ecology of these tick species.

Cite This Article

APA
Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Einhorn A, Apanaskevich DA, Mumcuoglu KY, Gottlieb Y. (2020). Potential tick vectors for Theileria equi in Israel. Med Vet Entomol, 34(3), 291-294. https://doi.org/10.1111/mve.12435

Publication

Medical and veterinary entomology
ISSN: 1365-2915
NlmUniqueID: 8708682
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 3
Pages: 291-294

Researcher Affiliations

Tirosh-Levy, S
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
Steinman, A
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
Einhorn, A
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.
Apanaskevich, D A
  • U.S. National Tick Collection, Institute for Coastal Plain Science, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA, U.S.A.
  • Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St Petersburg, Russia.
Mumcuoglu, K Y
  • Parasitology Unit, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Kuvin Centre for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Gottlieb, Y
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arachnid Vectors / classification
  • Arachnid Vectors / parasitology
  • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / transmission
  • Horses
  • Israel
  • Ixodidae / classification
  • Ixodidae / physiology
  • Male
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / analysis
  • Salivary Glands / parasitology
  • Species Specificity
  • Theileria / classification
  • Theileria / isolation & purification
  • Theileriasis / parasitology
  • Theileriasis / transmission

References

This article includes 24 references
  1. Aharonson-Raz K, Rapoport A, Hawari IM. Novel description of force of infection and risk factors associated with Theileria equi in horses in Israel and in the Palestinian Authority. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2014, 5, 366-372.
  2. Alhassan A, Pumidonming W, Okamura M. Development of a single-round and multiplex PCR method for the simultaneous detection of Babesia caballi and Babesia equi in horse blood. Veterinary Parasitology 2005, 129, 43-49.
  3. Apanaskevich DA, Horak IG. The genus Hyalomma Koch, 1844. II. Taxonomic status of Hyalomma (Euhyalomma) anatolicum Koch, 1844 and H. (E.) excavatum Koch, 1844 (Acari, Ixodidae) with redescription of all stages. Acarina 2005, 13, 181-197.
  4. Apanaskevich DA, Horak IG. The genus Hyalomma Koch, 1844: V. Re- evaluation of the taxonomic rank of taxa comprising the H. (Euhyalomma) marginatum Koch complex of species (Acari: Ixodidae) with redescription of all parasitic stages and notes on biology. International Journal of Acarology 2008, 34, 13-42.
  5. Dantas-Torres F, Otranto D. Species diversity and abundance of ticks in three habitats in southern Italy. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2015, 6, 204.
  6. Edwards KT, Goddard J, Varela-Stokes AS. Examination of the internal morphology of the Ixodid tick Amblyomma maculatum Koch, (Acari: Ixodidae): a ‘how-to’ pictorial dissection guide. Midsouth Entomologist 2009, 2, 28-39.
  7. Estrada-Peña A, Bouattour A, Camicas J, Walker A. Ticks of Domestic Animals in the Mediterranean Region. 2004.
  8. Feldman-Muhsam B. A note on East Mediterranean species of the genus Haemaphysalis. Bulletin of the Research Council of Israel 1951, 1, 96-107.
  9. Feldman-Muhsam B, Borut S. Some ecological observations on two East- Mediterranean species of Haemaphysalis ticks parasitizing domestic stock. Veterinary Parasitology 1983, 13, 171-181.
  10. Feldman-Muhsam B, Saturen IM. Notes on the ecology of ixodid ticks of domestic stock in Israel. Bulletin of the Research Council of Israel 1961, 10, 53.
  11. Filippova NA. Ixodid Ticks of Subfamily Amblyomminae. Fauna of Russia and Neighbouring Countries. Arachnoidea. 1997.
  12. Ikadai H, Sasaki M, Ishida H. Molecular evidence of Babesia equi transmission in Haemaphysalis longicornis. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygine 2007, 76, 694-697.
  13. Jalovecka M, Hajdusek O, Sojka D, Kopacek P, Malandrin L. The complexity of piroplasms life cycles. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 2018, 8, 248.
  14. Ketter-Ratzon D, Tirosh-Levy S, Nachum-Biala Y. Characterization of Theileria equi genotypes in horses in Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Jordan. Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases 2017, 8, 499-505.
  15. Keysary A, Eremeeva ME, Leitner M. Spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks collected from wild animals in Israel. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2011, 85, 919-923.
  16. Mehlhorn H, Schein E. Redescription of Babesia equi Laveran, 1901 as Theileria equi Mehlhorn, Schein 1998. Parasitology Research 1998, 84, 467-475.
  17. Pritt BS. Haemaphysalis longicornis is in the United States and biting humans: where do we go from here?. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2020, 70, 317-318.
  18. Rothschild CM. Equine piroplasmosis. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 2013, 23, 115-120.
  19. Samish M, Pipano E, Hadani A. Intrastadial and interstadial transmission of Anaplasma marginale by Boophilus annulatus ticks in cattle. American Journal of Veterinary Research 1993, 54, 411-414.
  20. Scoles GA, Ueti MW. Vector ecology of equine piroplasmosis. Annual Review of Entomology 2015, 60, 561-580.
  21. Steinman A, Zimmerman T, Klement E. Demographic and environmental risk factors for infection by Theileria equi in 590 horses in Israel. Veterinary Parasitology 2012, 187, 558-562.
  22. Theodor O, Costa M. A Survey of the Parasites of Wild Mammals and Birds in Israel. Part I. Ectoparasites. 1967.
  23. Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Apanaskevich DA, Mumcuoglu KY, Steinman A. Species distribution and seasonal dynamics of equine tick infestation in two Mediterranean climate niches in Israel. Parasites and Vectors 2018, 11, 546.
  24. Wise LN, Kappmeyer LS, Mealey RH, Knowles DP. Review of equine piroplasmosis. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 2013, 27, 1334-1346.

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Fuehrer HP, Alho AM, Kayikci FN, Shahi Barogh B, Rosa H, Tomás J, Rocha H, Harl J, Madeira de Carvalho L. Survey of Zoonotic and Non-zoonotic Vector-Borne Pathogens in Military Horses in Lisbon, Portugal. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:591943.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.591943pubmed: 33195629google scholar: lookup
  2. 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
  3. Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Levy H, Katz Y, Shtilman M, Gottlieb Y. Parasite load and genotype are associated with clinical outcome of piroplasm-infected equines in Israel. Parasit Vectors 2020 May 20;13(1):267.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04133-ypubmed: 32434550google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.