Rapid detection of equine piroplasms using multiplex PCR and first genetic characterization of Theileria haneyi in Egypt
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Date
Authors
Elsawy, Bassma S.M.
Nassar, Ahmed M.
Alzan, Heba F.
Bhoora, Raksha Vasantrai
Ozubek, Sezayi
Mahmoud, Mona S.
Kandil, Omnia M.
Mahdy, Olfat A.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites
Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and the recently identified species T. haneyi. Hereby, we used a multiplex
PCR (mPCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi and B. caballi for the simultaneous detection of EP
in Egyptian equids and examined the presence of T. haneyi infections in Egypt. Blood samples from
155 equids (79 horses and 76 donkeys) collected from different governorates of Egypt were examined
by mPCR and PCR targeting T. hayeni. The mPCR method revealed a prevalence of T. equi of 20.3%
in horses and of 13.1% in donkeys and a prevalence of B. caballi of 1.2% in horses. B. caballi was not
detected in donkeys in the current study. The mPCR method also detected coinfections with both
species (2.5% and 1.3% in horses and donkeys, respectively). Additionally, we report the presence
of T. haneyi in Egypt for the first time in 53.1% of the horse and 38.1% of the donkey tested samples.
Coinfection with T. haneyi and T. equi was found in 13.5% of the samples, while infection with the
three EP species was found in 1.9% of the samples.
Description
Keywords
Equids, Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, Theileria haneyi, 18S rRNA gene and sequencing, Multiplex PCR (mPCR), Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Conventional PCR (cPCR)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Elsawy, B.S.M.; Nassar,
A.M.; Alzan, H.F.; Bhoora, R.V.;
Ozubek, S.; Mahmoud, M.S.; Kandil,
O.M.; Mahdy, O.A. Rapid Detection
of Equine Piroplasms Using
Multiplex PCR and First Genetic
Characterization of Theileria haneyi in
Egypt. Pathogens 2021, 10, 1414.
https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10111414.