Preliminary study on prevalence of hemoprotozoan parasites harbored by Stomoxys (Diptera: Muscidae) and tabanid flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in horse farms in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Southern Thailand.
Abstract: and tabanid flies are of medical and veterinary importance because they play crucial roles in disease transmission as mechanical vectors of various hemopathogens. However, its role as a hemoprotozoan parasite vector in horse farms has not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence of hemoprotozoan parasites belonging to the genera , , and in and tabanid flies using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. Unassigned: All samples ( and tabanid flies) were collected using an Nzi trap for three consecutive days each month from November 2022 to March 2023. The flies were morphologically identified to the species level and separated according to sex. Individual (for tabanid flies) or pooled samples (consisting of three specimens of flies of the same species and sex collected from the same site) were used for DNA extraction. Conventional PCR was used to screen for hemoprotozoan parasite DNA, followed by Sanger sequencing to identify the species. Unassigned: In total, 189 biting flies were collected, including four species of (, , , and ) and five species of tabanids (, , , , and ). was the most prevalent species, accounting for 58.7% (n = 111) of the collected flies. Ten (12.4%) of the 81 samples (individuals and pools) analyzed by PCR were positive for the 18S rRNA gene of the / species. DNA was not detected in any sample. After performing Basic Local Alignment Search Tool searches and a phylogenetic analysis, only six samples (7.4%), including (n = 2), (n = 2), (n = 1), and (n = 1), were found to be infected with . Furthermore, apicomplexan parasites, namely, spp. and spp., were found on , the fungus spp. was found on , and the pathogenic green alga spp. was found on . Unassigned: This study is the first to report a variety of and tabanid flies collected from horse farms in Thailand, which were found to be infected with and species that affect mammals, suggesting that and tabanid flies can be used to confirm the presence of hemoprotozoan parasites in the study area. Understanding the presence of hemoprotozoa in flies could help design vector control programs and manage various diseases in the study area.
Copyright: © Phetkarl, et al.
Publication Date: 2023-10-18 PubMed ID: 38023282PubMed Central: PMC10668551DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.2128-2134Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research investigates the presence and role of hemoprotozoan parasites in Stomoxys and tabanid flies in horse farms in Southern Thailand, revealing that these flies play a significant role in transmitting diseases.
Objective and Methodology
- The study aimed to explore the role of Stomoxys and tabanid flies in the transmission of hemoprotozoan parasites in horse farms in Nakhon Si Thammarat province of Southern Thailand.
- This was done using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify the presence of hemoprotozoan parasites, followed by DNA sequencing to identify their species.
- Over a period of five months, samples were collected from the flies using a trapping method. The flies were then identified and separated based on the species and sex.
Data Collection and Results
- A total of 189 biting flies were gathered. They represented four species of Stomoxys and five species of tabanid flies.
- They found hemoprotozoan parasite DNA in ten out of 81 samples tested, but no DNA from Trypanosoma species was found in any sample.
- Additionally, through alignment searches and phylogenetic analysis, six samples were confirmed to be infected with Theileria equi. The infected samples included two each from two species of Stomoxys, and one each from two species of tabanids.
- Moreover, a variety of parasites such as gregarines and coccidia were detected on various species of the flies, in addition to finding fungal and algal species.
Conclusion and Implications
- This research is the first to examine and report the presence of hemoprotozoan parasites in Stomoxys and tabanid flies from horse farms in Thailand.
- The findings suggest these flies are carriers of Theileria equi, one of the hemoprotozoan parasites that affect mammals, notably horses.
- The knowledge gained through this study will potentially aid in designing effective vector control programs, thus managing various diseases in the region.
Cite This Article
APA
Phetkarl T, Fungwithaya P, Udompornprasith S, Amendt J, Sontigun N.
(2023).
Preliminary study on prevalence of hemoprotozoan parasites harbored by Stomoxys (Diptera: Muscidae) and tabanid flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in horse farms in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Southern Thailand.
Vet World, 16(10), 2128-2134.
https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2023.2128-2134 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
- School of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, 10520, Thailand.
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Kennedyallee 104, 60596, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Akkhraratchakumari Veterinary College, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
- One Health Research Center, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
- Center of Excellence Research for Melioidosis and Microorganisms, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, 80160, Thailand.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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