Prevalence and molecular characterization of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in jereed horses in Erzurum, Turkey.
Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a hemoprotozoan tick-borne disease with worldwide distribution that is caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. There are studies reporting the presence of equine piroplasmosis in Turkey but the situation in Erzurum is unknown. The aim of the current study was to determine the situation of equine piroplasmosis in jeered horses in Erzurum. Between April and August 2015, a total of 125 Arabian horse were examined and blood samples were collected. At the time of sampling, animals were also examined for tick infestations and clinical signs. Besides microscopic examination of Giemsastained blood smears, multiplex PCR performed with species specific primers partially amplifying the 18S rRNA gene of B. caballi and T. equi. During the microscopic examination of blood smears, T. equi piroplasms were found in 6 (4.8%) samples. In total, 11 (8.8%) T. equi DNA were detected with multiplex PCR. B. caballi piroplasms or DNA were not obtained. BLAST analysis of the sequenced T. equi samples (GenBank: KU921661-KU921667) indicated 98.8-100% identity to each other, and 100% similarity to T. equi isolates in South Africa, Iran, China, Sudan, India, Mongolia, Trinidad, Kenya, Spain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey (Bursa). The results of our study indicate that T. equi occurs more frequently than B. caballi in the study area. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the molecular detection of equine piroplasmosis in jeered horses in Erzurum, Turkey.
Publication Date: 2016-12-29 PubMed ID: 28030350DOI: 10.1515/ap-2017-0025Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigated the presence of Equine piroplasmosis, a tick-borne disease caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, in Arabian horses in Erzurum, Turkey. Results showed that T. equi was more prevalent than B. caballi in the studied region.
Objective of the Research
- The research aimed to determine the presence and extent of Equine piroplasmosis in jereed horses in a certain location in Turkey — Erzurum. This particular disease, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, is carried by ticks and affects horses.
Methods of the Research
- A total of 125 Arabian horses were examined between April and August 2015. The authors collected blood samples from these horses and examined the animals for signs of tick infestations and clinical symptoms.
- They employed microscopic examination of Giemsastained blood smears and also carried out a multiplex PCR test with species-specific primers, partially enhancing the 18S rRNA gene of B. caballi and T. equi.
Findings of the Research
- Microscopic examination identified T. equi piroplasms in 6 samples from the horses (about 4.8% of the total samples).
- Additional T. equi DNA were detected in 11 samples (8.8% of total) via multiplex PCR.
- No piroplasms or DNA of B. caballi were detected in the samples.
Interpretation of the Research
- The comparative analysis between the sequenced T. equi samples showed them to have between 98.8-100% identity to each other. Furthermore, a 100% similarity was found to T. equi isolates in multiple countries including South Africa, Iran, China, Sudan, India, Mongolia, Trinidad, Kenya, Spain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Turkey.
- The research concluded that T. equi occurs more frequently than B. caballi in the study area. This, according to the authors, is the first instance of molecular detection of equine piroplasmosis in jereed horses in Erzurum, Turkey.
Cite This Article
APA
Guven E, Avcioglu H, Deniz A, Balkaya İ, Abay U, Yavuz Ş, Akyüz M.
(2016).
Prevalence and molecular characterization of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in jereed horses in Erzurum, Turkey.
Acta Parasitol, 62(1), 207-213.
https://doi.org/10.1515/ap-2017-0025 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesia / classification
- Babesia / genetics
- Babesia / isolation & purification
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- Babesiosis / parasitology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Male
- Phylogeny
- Prevalence
- Theileria / classification
- Theileria / genetics
- Theileria / isolation & purification
- Theileriasis / epidemiology
- Theileriasis / parasitology
- Turkey / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Köseoğlu AE, Can H, Güvendi M, Erkunt Alak S, Kandemir Ç, Taşkın T, Demir S, Akgül G, Değirmenci Döşkaya A, Karakavuk M, Döşkaya M, Gürüz AY, Ün C. Molecular investigation of bacterial and protozoal pathogens in ticks collected from different hosts in Turkey. Parasit Vectors 2021 May 20;14(1):270.
- Ceylan O, Xuan X, Sevinc F. Primary Tick-Borne Protozoan and Rickettsial Infections of Animals in Turkey. Pathogens 2021 Feb 19;10(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).
- Onyiche TE, Taioe MO, Molefe NI, Biu AA, Luka J, Omeh IJ, Yokoyama N, Thekisoe O. Equine piroplasmosis: an insight into global exposure of equids from 1990 to 2019 by systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasitology 2020 Nov;147(13):1411-1424.
- Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 May 16;16(10).
- Karasartova D, Gureser AS, Gokce T, Celebi B, Yapar D, Keskin A, Celik S, Ece Y, Erenler AK, Usluca S, Mumcuoglu KY, Taylan-Ozkan A. Bacterial and protozoal pathogens found in ticks collected from humans in Corum province of Turkey. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 Apr;12(4):e0006395.
- Montes Cortés MG, Fernández-García JL, Habela Martínez-Estéllez MÁ. Seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in Spain. Parasite 2017;24:14.
- Hacilarlioglu S, Bilgic HB, Karagenc T, Aydin HB, Toker H, Kanlioglu H, Pekagirbas M, Bakirci S. Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Equine Piroplasmosis and Other Blood Parasites in Equids of Western Aegean Türkiye. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 27;12(9).
- Altay K, Erol U, Sahin OF, Ulucesme MC, Aytmirzakizi A, Aktas M. Survey of tick-borne pathogens in grazing horses in Kyrgyzstan: phylogenetic analysis, genetic diversity, and prevalence of Theileria equi. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1359974.
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