FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary parasitology2011; 186(3-4); 456-460; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.11.070

Quest for the piroplasms in camels: identification of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Jordanian dromedaries by PCR.

Abstract: DNA of two species of piroplasmids was detected in dromedaries during a survey of blood protozoans in Jordan between 2007 and 2009. Ten clinically healthy camels (10%) originating from three Jordanian districts were found, using a PCR assay, to harbor Theileria or Babesia species in their blood and no mix infection was determined. Analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene sequences of these parasites allowed their unambiguous identification as equine piroplasmids Babesia caballi (n=6) and Theileria equi (n=4). In case of latter species, a novel genotype was found in horses. This first molecular-based species determination of piroplasmids from camels further contributes to the growing evidence of low host specificity of piroplasmids.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2011-11-29 PubMed ID: 22186193DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.11.070Google 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
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The research identifies the presence of two types of blood parasites in camels in Jordan during a survey conducted from 2007 to 2009, with the help of PCR testing. These blood parasites or piroplasmids belong to the species Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, typically found in horses.

Method of Detection and Results

  • The research utilized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing to detect these parasite species in camels. PCR is a widely used laboratory method for copying a specific DNA sequence, the presence of which would denote the incidence of these parasites.
  • The blood samples of 10 out of a total of 100 healthy camels (constituting 10%) from three different districts in Jordan were found to host either Theileria or Babesia species. There were no instances of co-infection found, meaning a single camel did not host both species simultaneously.

Confirmation of Parasites and Discovery of New Genotype

  • The presence of these parasites was confirmed by analyzing the partial 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequences, a standard procedure for the identification of parasites at a molecular level.
  • The analysis led to the unambiguous identification of two equine piroplasmids Theileria equi (in 4 camels) and Babesia caballi (in 6 camels).
  • Remarkably, Theileria equi genotype found was new and previously undiscovered in horses.

Implications for Parasite Host Specificity

  • The detection of these two horse-specific piroplasmids in camels contributes to the ongoing research suggesting that piroplasmids have low host specificity – a term used in parasitology to denote the number and diversity of host species a parasite can infect.
  • This conclusion is drawn based on the finding that piroplasmids, typically occurring in horses, were found in a different host species, namely camels. This could imply broader implications for how these parasites are spread and controlled.

Cite This Article

APA
Qablan MA, Sloboda M, Jirků M, Oborník M, Dwairi S, Amr ZS, Hořín P, Lukeš J, Modrý D. (2011). Quest for the piroplasms in camels: identification of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Jordanian dromedaries by PCR. Vet Parasitol, 186(3-4), 456-460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.11.070

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 186
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 456-460

Researcher Affiliations

Qablan, Moneeb Ahmad
  • Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. moneeb_78@hotmail.com
Sloboda, Michal
    Jirků, Milan
      Oborník, Miroslav
        Dwairi, Samir
          Amr, Zuhair Sami
            Hořín, Petr
              Lukeš, Julius
                Modrý, David

                  MeSH Terms

                  • Animals
                  • Babesia / classification
                  • Babesia / genetics
                  • Babesia / isolation & purification
                  • Babesiosis / diagnosis
                  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
                  • Babesiosis / veterinary
                  • Camelus / parasitology
                  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
                  • Horses
                  • Jordan / epidemiology
                  • Phylogeny
                  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
                  • Theileria / classification
                  • Theileria / genetics
                  • Theileria / isolation & purification
                  • Theileriasis / diagnosis
                  • Theileriasis / epidemiology

                  Citations

                  This article has been cited 25 times.
                  1. Mahdy OA, Nassar AM, Elsawy BSM, Alzan HF, Kandil OM, Mahmoud MS, Suarez CE. Cross-sectional analysis of Piroplasma species-infecting camel (Camelus dromedaries) in Egypt using a multipronged molecular diagnostic approach. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1178511.
                    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1178511pubmed: 37187929google scholar: lookup
                  2. Coultous RM, Sutton DGM, Boden LA. A risk assessment of equine piroplasmosis entry, exposure and consequences in the UK. Equine Vet J 2023 Mar;55(2):282-294.
                    doi: 10.1111/evj.13579pubmed: 35478189google scholar: lookup
                  3. Al-Nabati E, Alajmi R, Metwally DM, Al-Turaiki IM, Tellez-Isaias G, Abdel-Gaber R. Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Rickettsial Pathogens Associated with the Arabian Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in Riyadh and the Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia. Acta Parasitol 2022 Jun;67(2):794-801.
                    doi: 10.1007/s11686-022-00520-wpubmed: 35107775google scholar: lookup
                  4. Schnittger L, Ganzinelli S, Bhoora R, Omondi D, Nijhof AM, Florin-Christensen M. The Piroplasmida Babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria in farm and companion animals: species compilation, molecular phylogeny, and evolutionary insights. Parasitol Res 2022 May;121(5):1207-1245.
                    doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07424-8pubmed: 35098377google scholar: lookup
                  5. Mirahmadi H, Ghaderi A, Barani S, Alijani E, Mehravaran A, Shafiei R. Prevalence of camel babesiosis in southeast of Iran. Vet Med Sci 2022 Jan;8(1):343-348.
                    doi: 10.1002/vms3.666pubmed: 34800356google scholar: lookup
                  6. El-Sayed SAE, El-Adl MA, Ali MO, Al-Araby M, Omar MA, El-Beskawy M, Sorour SS, Rizk MA, Elgioushy M. Molecular detection and identification of Babesia bovis and Trypanosoma spp. in one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius) breeds in Egypt. Vet World 2021 Mar;14(3):625-633.
                    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.625-633pubmed: 33935407google scholar: lookup
                  7. Mohamed WMA, Ali AO, Mahmoud HYAH, Omar MA, Chatanga E, Salim B, Naguib D, Anders JL, Nonaka N, Moustafa MAM, Nakao R. Exploring Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Microbiomes Helps in Detecting Tick-Borne Infectious Agents in the Blood of Camels. Pathogens 2021 Mar 16;10(3).
                    doi: 10.3390/pathogens10030351pubmed: 33809738google scholar: lookup
                  8. Omer SA, Alsuwaid DF, Mohammed OB. Molecular characterization of ticks and tick-borne piroplasms from cattle and camel in Hofuf, eastern Saudi Arabia. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021 Mar;28(3):2023-2028.
                    doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.01.005pubmed: 33732089google scholar: lookup
                  9. 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
                  10. Onyiche TE, Răileanu C, Tauchmann O, Fischer S, Vasić A, Schäfer M, Biu AA, Ogo NI, Thekisoe O, Silaghi C. Prevalence and molecular characterization of ticks and tick-borne pathogens of one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Nigeria. Parasit Vectors 2020 Aug 24;13(1):428.
                    doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04272-2pubmed: 32838795google scholar: lookup
                  11. Bishop RP, Kappmeyer LS, Onzere CK, Odongo DO, Githaka N, Sears KP, Knowles DP, Fry LM. Equid infective Theileria cluster in distinct 18S rRNA gene clades comprising multiple taxa with unusually broad mammalian host ranges. Parasit Vectors 2020 May 19;13(1):261.
                    doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04131-0pubmed: 32430015google scholar: lookup
                  12. Alanazi AD, Nguyen VL, Alyousif MS, Manoj RRS, Alouffi AS, Donato R, Sazmand A, Mendoza-Roldan JA, Dantas-Torres F, Otranto D. Ticks and associated pathogens in camels (Camelus dromedarius) from Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. Parasit Vectors 2020 Feb 28;13(1):110.
                    doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-3973-ypubmed: 32111251google scholar: lookup
                  13. 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).
                    doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101736pubmed: 31100920google scholar: lookup
                  14. Smith RM, Bhoora RV, Kotzé A, Grobler JP, Lee Dalton D. Translocation a potential corridor for equine piroplasms in Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019 Aug;9:130-133.
                    doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.04.010pubmed: 31080728google scholar: lookup
                  15. Ganchimeg D, Batbold B, Murata T, Davaapurev BO, Munkhjargal T, Tuvshintulga B, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Buyankhishig B, Sasaki K, Batsuren D, Batkhuu J. Flavonoids isolated from the flowers of Pulsatilla flavescens and their anti-piroplasm activity. J Nat Med 2019 Jun;73(3):633-640.
                    doi: 10.1007/s11418-019-01294-8pubmed: 30847754google scholar: lookup
                  16. Sazmand A, Joachim A. Parasitic diseases of camels in Iran (1931-2017) - a literature review. Parasite 2017;24:21.
                    doi: 10.1051/parasite/2017024pubmed: 28617666google scholar: lookup
                  17. Sazmand A, Eigner B, Mirzaei M, Hekmatimoghaddam SH, Harl J, Duscher GG, Fuehrer HP, Joachim A. Molecular Identification of Hemoprotozoan Parasites in Camels (Camelus dromedarius) of Iran. Iran J Parasitol 2016 Oct-Dec;11(4):568-573.
                    pubmed: 28127369
                  18. Dao TTH, Szűts T, Duong NN, Troung DTQ, Solymosi N, Takács N, Hornok S, Farkas R. The first molecular detection of equine piroplasmosis in Vietnam and genetic characterization of three co-circulating genotypes of Theileria equi. Parasitol Res 2026 Feb 5;125(1):14.
                    doi: 10.1007/s00436-026-08630-4pubmed: 41644779google scholar: lookup
                  19. Mendoza FJ, Pérez-Écija A, Kappmeyer LS, Suarez CE, Bastos RG. New insights in the diagnosis and treatment of equine piroplasmosis: pitfalls, idiosyncrasies, and myths. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1459989.
                    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1459989pubmed: 39205808google scholar: lookup
                  20. 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.
                    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1359974pubmed: 38746933google scholar: lookup
                  21. Nehra AK, Kumari A, Moudgil AD, Vohra S. Revisiting the genotypes of Theileria equi based on the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1303090.
                    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1303090pubmed: 38560630google scholar: lookup
                  22. Zhao HX, Zan XQ, Tao JZ, Dan XG. Molecular Characterization of Tick-borne Pathogens in Bactrian Camels and Ticks from Gansu Province, China. Acta Parasitol 2024 Mar;69(1):343-350.
                    doi: 10.1007/s11686-023-00752-4pubmed: 38087038google scholar: lookup
                  23. Elsawy BSM, Mahmoud MS, Suarez CE, Alzan HF. Impact of Equine and Camel Piroplasmosis in Egypt: How Much Do We Know about the Current Situation?. Pathogens 2023 Nov 5;12(11).
                    doi: 10.3390/pathogens12111318pubmed: 38003783google scholar: lookup
                  24. Galon EM, Macalanda AM, Sugi T, Hayashida K, Kawai N, Kidaka T, Ybañez RH, Adjou Moumouni PF, Ringo AE, Li H, Ji S, Yamagishi J, Ybañez A, Xuan X. Bovine Piroplasma Populations in the Philippines Characterized Using Targeted Amplicon Deep Sequencing. Microorganisms 2023 Oct 18;11(10).
                    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms11102584pubmed: 37894242google scholar: lookup
                  25. Sazmand A, Bahari A, Papi S, Otranto D. Parasitic diseases of equids in Iran (1931-2020): a literature review. Parasit Vectors 2020 Nov 19;13(1):586.
                    doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04472-wpubmed: 33213507google scholar: lookup
                  Subscribe to our newsletter
                  Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.