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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Quest for the piroplasms in camels: identification of Theile...
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.
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Publication Date: 2011-11-29 PubMed ID: 22186193DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.11.070Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.
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