Theileria orientalis Ikeda infection detected in red deer but not dogs or horses in New Zealand.
Abstract: To determine whether evidence for infection with (Ikeda) could be identified in samples of commercial red deer , horses, and working farm dogs in New Zealand. Unassigned: Blood samples were collected during October and November 2019 from a convenience sample of red deer (n = 57) at slaughter. Equine blood samples (n = 50) were convenience-sampled from those submitted to a veterinary pathology laboratory for routine testing in January 2020. Blood samples, collected for a previous study from a convenience sample of Huntaway dogs (n = 115) from rural regions throughout the North and South Islands of New Zealand between August 2018 and December 2020, were also tested. DNA was extracted and quantitative PCR was used to detect the Ikeda major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene. A standard curve of five serial 10-fold dilutions of a plasmid carrying a fragment of the MPSP gene was used to quantify the number of organisms in the samples. MPSP amplicons obtained by end-point PCR on positive samples were isolated and subjected to DNA sequencing. The resulting sequences were compared to previously published sequences. Unassigned: There were 6/57 (10%) samples positive for Ikeda from the deer and no samples positive for Ikeda from the working dogs or horses. The mean infection intensity for the six PCR-positive deer was 5.1 (min 2.2, max 12.4) Ikeda organisms/µL. Unassigned: Red deer can potentially sustain low infection intensities of Ikeda and could act as reservoirs of infected ticks. Further studies are needed to determine whether naïve ticks feeding on infected red deer can themselves become infected. Unassigned: Cq: Quantification cycle; LOQ: Limits of quantification; MPSP: Major piroplasm surface protein; qPCR: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
Publication Date: 2024-09-02 PubMed ID: 39222954DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2024.2393679Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research aimed to detect the presence of Theileria orientalis, specifically the Ikeda strain, in red deer, horses, and farm dogs in New Zealand, and found that the parasite was present in red deer but not in the other two species.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted by collecting blood samples from different animals during various periods. Blood samples of red deer (57 samples) were taken during October and November 2019. Equine blood samples (50 samples) were taken from specimens submitted to a veterinary pathology laboratory for routine testing in January 2020.
- The blood samples from Huntaway farm dogs (115 samples) were obtained from an earlier study carried out from August 2018 till December 2020.
- All these samples underwent DNA extraction procedures, after which quantitative PCR was used to detect the presence of the Theileria orientalis (Ikeda) major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene.
- A standard curve was prepared by making five serial 10-fold dilutions of a plasmid that had a fragment of the Theileria orientalis MPSP gene. This was done to calculate the number of Theileria organisms present in the sampled specimens.
- Positive samples then underwent DNA sequencing to compare the resulting sequences with previously published Theileria sequences.
Findings of the Study
- Out of the 57 collected samples from red deer, 10% or 6 samples tested positive for Theileria orientalis (Ikeda).
- None of the blood samples collected from dogs and horses tested positive for the parasite.
- The mean infection intensity for the six PCR-positive deer was 5.1 (ranging from 2.2 to 12.4) Theileria organisms/µL, indicating low infection intensities in those deer.
Implications of the Findings
- According to these results, it is indicated that red deer can endure low infection intensities of Theileria orientalis (Ikeda) and could act as reservoirs of infected ticks.
- This necessitates further studies to ascertain whether ticks that feed on the infected deer can obtain the infection, thus expanding our understanding of the disease transmission process in this context.
Cite This Article
APA
Lawrence KE, Gedye K, Carvalho L, Wang B, Fermin LM, Pomroy WE.
(2024).
Theileria orientalis Ikeda infection detected in red deer but not dogs or horses in New Zealand.
N Z Vet J, 1-5.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00480169.2024.2393679 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Tāwharau Ora - School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
- Tāwharau Ora - School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
- AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
- Tāwharau Ora - School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
- Tāwharau Ora - School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
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