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Home / Equine Research Bank / Infect Genet Evol / Prevalence and genetic diversity of piroplasm species in hor...
Infection, genetics and evolution : journal of molecular epidemiology and evolutionary genetics in infectious diseases2013; 17; 33-37; doi: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.03.038

Prevalence and genetic diversity of piroplasm species in horses and ticks from Tunisia.

Abstract: The genetic diversity and prevalence of Babesia and Theileria species in the equine population of Tunisia were studied using reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization on blood samples and unfed adult ticks collected from apparently healthy horses from three bioclimatic zones in Tunisia. Piroplasms were identified in 13 of 104 of the horse blood samples analyzed (12.5%) and five genotype groups were identified: Theileria equi group A (nine animals, 8.7%), group C (one animal, 1.0%) and group D (three animals, 2.9%), and Babesia caballi groups A and B (one animal each). All horses from the semi-arid zone were negative and prevalence in the humid and sub-humid zones were 12.9% and 20.0%, respectively. Three Ixodid tick species (Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma excavatum and Rhipicephalus bursa) were collected from examined horses and equine piroplasms were detected in 10.8% of them. T. equi groups A and D (9.2%), and B. caballi group B (1.6%) were identified in ticks. This work represents the first epidemiological report of equine piroplasmosis in Tunisia. Results showed a high level of diversity within the 18S rRNA gene of equine piroplasm species, and confirmed the presence in Tunisia of two T. equi genetic groups, C and D, only reported before in South Africa and Sudan.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2013-03-29 PubMed ID: 23542456DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2013.03.038Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The research examines the prevalence and genetic diversity of Babesia and Theileria species — piroplasm parasites that cause equine piroplasmosis — in horses and ticks from different bioclimatic zones in Tunisia.

Study Methodology

  • The study uses reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization technique on blood samples from horses and adult ticks that were seemingly healthy. The areas surveyed encompass three distinct bioclimatic zones in Tunisia.

Key Findings

  • Out of 104 horse blood samples tested, piroplasms were found in 13 samples (12.5%). Five genotype groups were identified — Theileria equi group A, C, D, and Babesia caballi groups A and B.
  • The prevalence varied across zones, with all horses from the semi-arid zone testing negative, while the humid zone had a prevalence of 12.9%, and the sub-humid zone had a rate of 20%.
  • Three different species of Ixodid ticks were collected from the horses. These were Hyalomma marginatum, Hyalomma excavatum and Rhipicephalus bursa. Equine piroplasms were found in 10.8% of these ticks.
  • The ticks tested led to the identification of Theileria equi groups A and D, along with Babesia caballi group B.

Significance of the Study

  • This study provides the first epidemiological report of equine piroplasmosis in Tunisia. It highlights a high level of genetic diversity within the 18S rRNA gene of equine piroplasm species in the area.
  • Most notably, the research confirms the presence of two previously unreported T. equi genetic groups (C and D) in Tunisia, which had only been found in South Africa and Sudan before this.

Cite This Article

APA
Ros-García A, M'ghirbi Y, Hurtado A, Bouattour A. (2013). Prevalence and genetic diversity of piroplasm species in horses and ticks from Tunisia. Infect Genet Evol, 17, 33-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2013.03.038

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: 17
Pages: 33-37
PII: S1567-1348(13)00111-1

Researcher Affiliations

Ros-García, Amaia
  • Department of Animal Health, NEIKER - Instituto Vasco de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario, Berreaga 1, 48160 Derio, Bizkaia, Spain. aros@neiker.net
M'ghirbi, Youmna
    Hurtado, Ana
      Bouattour, Ali

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Babesia / classification
        • Babesia / genetics
        • Babesia / isolation & purification
        • Babesiosis / epidemiology
        • Babesiosis / veterinary
        • Genetic Variation
        • Genotype
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horses / parasitology
        • Molecular Sequence Data
        • Prevalence
        • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
        • Sequence Analysis, DNA
        • Ticks / parasitology
        • Tunisia

        Citations

        This article has been cited 15 times.
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