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Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases2013; 16; 178-185; doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.02.005

Prevalence and genetic diversity of equine piroplasms in Tov province, Mongolia.

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis represents a serious problem in horse industry. Although, researchers suggested the possible use of sub-unit vaccines to control equine piroplasmosis, the genetic diversity of vaccine candidate antigens was not properly investigated. In the present study, we screened 250 horses reared in three different districts of Tov province, Mongolia, for Babesia caballi and Theileria equi using ELISA and nested PCR (nPCR) assays. Among these animals, piroplasms were detected in 128 (51.2%) horses by nPCR assays (B. caballi, 42.4%; T. equi, 6.4%; and mixed infections, 2.4%), while 204 (81.6%) were positive by ELISA (B. caballi, 51.6%; T. equi, 19.6%; and mixed infections, 10.4%). Male and middle-aged horses showed higher positive rates than female and younger or older horses. The findings also suggested that a combination of nPCR and ELISA techniques might be useful to detect horses that were chronically or subclinically infected with piroplasms. B. caballi-BC48 and T. equi-EMA-1 gene sequences, in addition to 18S rRNA, were subjected to phylogenetic analyses, and the findings suggested the presence of genetically diverse populations of equine piroplasms in Mongolia. BC48 sequences were separated into four clades in phylogram, and all the Mongolian sequences determined in the present study were found in a single clade. However, a single BC48 sequence previously isolated from a tick in Mongolia formed a separate branch. Similarly, EMA-1 sequences formed four clades, and Mongolian sequences were observed in two different clades, one of which was formed only of Mongolian sequences and is suggested as a new clade. This is the first report that describes the genotypes of equine piroplasms in Mongolia. The findings also emphasized the need for further investigations to study the effect of genetic diversity observed among BC48 as well as EMA-1 sequences on host's immune responses.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2013-02-14 PubMed ID: 23416256DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.02.005Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study examined the prevalence and genetic diversity of equine piroplasms, parasites that cause a serious disease in horses, in different districts of Tov province, Mongolia. Parasite detection techniques yielded significantly different results, revealing a diverse parasite population in the region. The findings highlight the need for further research to understand the impact of this genetic diversity on the hosts’ immune responses.

Study Aims and Methodology

  • The primary objectives of this study were to explore the prevalence of equine piroplasms in horses in Mongolia, and to examine the genetic diversity of the parasites, specifically in relation to two gene sequences: B. caballi-BC48 and T. equi-EMA-1.
  • The researchers performed tests on 250 horses from three districts of Tov province, Mongolia. They used two detection techniques – ELISA and nested PCR assays – to identify and quantify the parasites.
  • They also performed phylogenetic analyses on the BC48 and EMA-1 gene sequences of the parasites, as well as 18S rRNA, to understand the genetic diversity among the parasite populations.

Key Findings

  • Of the total horses tested, 51.2% were found to be infected by piroplasms using the nPCR assay, while 81.6% were found to be infected using the ELISA assay. These differences suggest that the two techniques may be able to detect different stages of infection, and the combination of both may be beneficial for diagnosing chronically or subclinically infected horses.
  • B. caballi was found more commonly than T. equi, and males and middle-aged horses showed higher positive rates than females and younger or older horses.
  • The phylogenetic analysis revealed that there is significant genetic diversity within the piroplasm population. For B. caballi, the BC48 sequences separated into four distinct clades, however, all Mongolian sequences investigated in the study were found in one clade.
  • Similarly, EMA-1 sequences formed four clades, two of which contained Mongolian sequences, further demonstrating the genetic diversity among these parasites.

Study Impact

  • The results of the study suggest that equine piroplasmosis is prevalent in the examined areas of Mongolia, necessitating effective control measures.
  • The genetic diversity observed among the parasites highlights the need for further research to understand its impact on hosts’ immune responses.
  • The study also establishes the benefit of combining nPCR and ELISA techniques for the detection of equine piroplasms.

Cite This Article

APA
Munkhjargal T, Sivakumar T, Battsetseg B, Nyamjargal T, Aboulaila M, Purevtseren B, Bayarsaikhan D, Byambaa B, Terkawi MA, Yokoyama N, Igarashi I. (2013). Prevalence and genetic diversity of equine piroplasms in Tov province, Mongolia. Infect Genet Evol, 16, 178-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2013.02.005

Publication

Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases
ISSN: 1567-7257
NlmUniqueID: 101084138
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 16
Pages: 178-185
PII: S1567-1348(13)00041-5

Researcher Affiliations

Munkhjargal, Tserendorj
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
Sivakumar, Thillaiampalam
    Battsetseg, Badgar
      Nyamjargal, Tserendorj
        Aboulaila, Mahmoud
          Purevtseren, Byambaa
            Bayarsaikhan, Dorj
              Byambaa, Badarch
                Terkawi, Mohamad Alaa
                  Yokoyama, Naoaki
                    Igarashi, Ikuo

                      MeSH Terms

                      • Animals
                      • Babesia / classification
                      • Babesia / genetics
                      • Babesia / isolation & purification
                      • Babesiosis / epidemiology
                      • Babesiosis / parasitology
                      • Babesiosis / veterinary
                      • Chi-Square Distribution
                      • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
                      • DNA, Protozoan / chemistry
                      • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
                      • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
                      • Female
                      • Genetic Variation
                      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                      • Horse Diseases / parasitology
                      • Horses
                      • Male
                      • Mongolia / epidemiology
                      • Phylogeny
                      • Polymerase Chain Reaction
                      • Prevalence
                      • Sequence Analysis, Protein
                      • Theileria / classification
                      • Theileria / genetics
                      • Theileria / isolation & purification
                      • Theileriasis / epidemiology
                      • Theileriasis / parasitology

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                      This article has been cited 25 times.
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