Zoology Division, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan.
J Med Entomol. 2019 Apr 16;56(3):844-848. doi: 10.1093/jme/tjy229.
Caprine theileriosis is a major production problem in regions of the world that rely on goats as a major source of milk, meat, and other means of economic income. Theileria ovis and Theileria lestoquardi are responsible for caprine theileriosis in Pakistan. The present study examined the prevalence of Theileria spp. infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and light microscopy of blood collected from goats from Multan, Pakistan. In addition, the prevalence and identity of the genus of ticks feeding on these goats was determined on specimens collected at the time of blood sampling. The current project hypothesized that Theileria spp. prevalence would be higher in goats infested with ticks than goats without tick infestation. Four hundred and sixty-three blood samples from goats were analyzed, and the prevalence of infection was 16.0% (95% confidence interval [CI] = ±5.96) 74 of 463 by PCR and 5.4% (95% CI = ±7.79) 25 of 463 by microscopic examination. Thirty-six (48.6%, 95% CI = ±4.96) and 30 (40.5%, 95% CI = ±7.10) of 74 samples were positive by PCR for T. ovis and T. lestoquardi, respectively. Eight samples (10.0%, 95% CI = ±9.61) had mixed infections of these Theileria species. Infection was observed significantly (P < 0.05) more often in male 22.8%, 95% CI = ±3.85 (23/101) than in female 14%, 95% CI = ±2.36 (51/362) goats. No statistical (P > 0.05) difference in prevalence was present among the three age groups of ≤1 yr (12.6%, 95% CI = ±6.70), 1-4 yr (16.2%, 95% CI = ±8.24), and ≥4 yr (17.7%, 95% CI = ±11.30) goats examined. Two hundred and one (43.4%, 95% CI = ±7.45) goats were infested with ticks, Rhipicephalus spp. and Haemaphysalis spp., which are capable of transmitting Theileria spp. Tick infestation was found to be a significant (P < 0.05) risk factor for infection. Prevalence of Theileria infection in goats was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the summer compared with the other three seasons. Data from this study support our hypothesis and demonstrate that both T. ovis and T. lestoquardi are highly prevalent in goats from Multan, Pakistan.
绵羊泰勒虫病是世界上一些依赖山羊作为主要奶、肉和其他经济收入来源的地区面临的一个主要生产问题。在巴基斯坦，绵羊泰勒虫由绵羊泰勒虫（Theileria ovis）和莱斯特泰勒虫（Theileria lestoquardi）引起。本研究采用聚合酶链反应（PCR）和显微镜检查法，对来自巴基斯坦木尔坦的山羊血液样本进行了泰勒虫属感染的流行情况检测。此外，还在采血时采集的样本中确定了吸食这些山羊的蜱的种类和流行情况。本项目假设，感染了蜱的山羊的泰勒虫属感染率会高于未感染蜱的山羊。对 463 份来自山羊的血液样本进行了分析，PCR 检测结果显示，感染率为 16.0%（95%置信区间 [CI] = ±5.96），74/463；显微镜检查结果显示，感染率为 5.4%（95% CI = ±7.79），25/463。36 份（48.6%，95% CI = ±4.96）和 30 份（40.5%，95% CI = ±7.10）PCR 检测结果为 T.ovis 和 T.lestoquardi 阳性的样本分别为 36 份和 30 份。8 份（10.0%，95% CI = ±9.61）样本同时感染了这两种泰勒虫。雄性山羊的感染率（22.8%，95% CI = ±3.85，23/101）显著高于雌性山羊（14%，95% CI = ±2.36，51/362）（P < 0.05）。≤1 岁（12.6%，95% CI = ±6.70）、1-4 岁（16.2%，95% CI = ±8.24）和≥4 岁（17.7%，95% CI = ±11.30）三组山羊的感染率无统计学差异（P > 0.05）。201 只（43.4%，95% CI = ±7.45）山羊被感染，感染源为能够传播泰勒虫属的璃眼蜱属（Rhipicephalus）和扇头蜱属（Haemaphysalis）。蜱的寄生被发现是感染的一个显著风险因素（P < 0.05）。与其他三个季节相比，夏季山羊的泰勒虫属感染率显著更高（P < 0.05）。本研究数据支持我们的假设，表明绵羊泰勒虫和莱斯特泰勒虫在巴基斯坦木尔坦的山羊中都高度流行。
