Steyl Johan C A, Prozesky Leon, Stoltsz Wilhelm H, Lawrence John A
Department of Paraclinical Sciences, University of Pretoria.
Onderstepoort J Vet Res. 2012 Apr 20;79(1):E1-8. doi: 10.4102/ojvr.v79i1.367.
Four hand-reared, naïve roan antelope, 4 months of age, were exposed to naturally infected pasture on a game farm in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, where roan are known to die from theileriosis. Various clinical parameters were recorded during this period. The predominant ticks parasitising these animals at the time (January to February), were Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi adults. After a period of 5 weeks the animals developed signs of clinical theileriosis and were treated with buparvaquone to prevent mortality. Primary hyperplasia of the local draining lymph nodes (Lnn. anorectales) near the feeding site of adult R. evertsi evertsi indicated possible transmission of Theileria sp. (sable) by this tick species. After recovery from theileriosis, these animals were confirmed carriers of Theileria sp. (sable) by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and DNA probe analysis. Laboratory-bred larvae and nymphs of R. evertsi evertsi and R. appendiculatus respectively, were fed on the ears of these roan antelope. Salivary glands from moulted and prefed adult ticks of each species were dissected and stained for Theileria spp., and the PCR and DNA probe applied to a representative batch of dissected glands. R. appendiculatus adults collected from grass in infected camps were also dissected after prefeeding them on rabbits. Salivary glands of both tick species showed infected acini on staining and were also positive for Theileria sp. (sable) only, on multiprotozoal PCR-screening analysis. There was no statistical significant difference between the infection rate and the intensity of infection between the two tick species. R. appendiculatus ticks collected from grass were also PCR-positive for Theileria sp. (sable).
4只人工饲养的、4月龄的原色马羚被置于南非姆普马兰加省一个野生动物养殖场的自然感染牧场，该地的马羚已知会死于泰勒虫病。在此期间记录了各种临床参数。当时（1月至2月）寄生在这些动物身上的主要蜱种为成年的肩突硬蜱和埃氏硬蜱。5周后，这些动物出现了临床泰勒虫病症状，并接受了丁萘脒治疗以防止死亡。在成年埃氏硬蜱取食部位附近的局部引流淋巴结（直肠肛门淋巴结）出现原发性增生，表明该蜱种可能传播了泰勒虫属（貂泰勒虫）。从泰勒虫病康复后，通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）和DNA探针分析确认这些动物为泰勒虫属（貂泰勒虫）的携带者。分别用埃氏硬蜱和肩突硬蜱的实验室培育幼虫和若虫叮咬这些马羚的耳朵。对每个物种蜕化的和饱血的成年蜱的唾液腺进行解剖，并对泰勒虫属进行染色，然后将PCR和DNA探针应用于一批代表性的解剖腺体。从受感染营地的草丛中收集的成年肩突硬蜱在喂兔后也进行了解剖。两种蜱的唾液腺在染色时均显示有感染的腺泡，并且在多原虫PCR筛选分析中仅对泰勒虫属（貂泰勒虫）呈阳性。两种蜱的感染率和感染强度之间没有统计学上的显著差异。从草丛中收集的肩突硬蜱对泰勒虫属（貂泰勒虫）的PCR检测也呈阳性。
