Department of Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, P.O. Box 12211, Giza, Egypt.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2023 Feb 20;55(2):91. doi: 10.1007/s11250-023-03507-5.
Babesia microti (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmida) causes a medically important tick-borne zoonotic protozoan disease. Egyptian camels are susceptible to Babesia infection; however, just a few cases have been documented. This study aimed to identify Babesia species, specifically Babesia microti, and their genetic diversity in dromedary camels in Egypt and associated hard ticks. Blood and hard tick samples were taken from 133 infested dromedary camels slaughtered in Cairo and Giza abattoirs. The study was conducted from February to November 2021. The 18S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify Babesia species. Nested PCR targeting the β-tubulin gene was used to identify B. microti. The PCR results were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis based on the ß-tubulin gene was used to detect and genotype B. microti. Three tick genera were identified in infested camels (Hyalomma, Rhipicephalus, and Amblyomma). Babesia species were detected in 3 out of 133 blood samples (2.3%), while Babesia spp. were not detected in hard ticks by using the 18S rRNA gene. B. microti was identified in 9 out of 133 blood samples (6.8%) and isolated from Rhipicephalus annulatus and Amblyomma cohaerens by the β-tubulin gene. The phylogenetic analysis of the β-tubulin gene revealed that USA-type B. microti was prevalent in Egyptian camels. The results of this study suggested that the Egyptian camels may be infected with Babesia spp. and the zoonotic B. microti strains, which pose a potential risk to public health.
微小巴贝斯虫（Apicomplexa：Piroplasmida）引起一种重要的医学蜱传动物源原生动物病。埃及骆驼易感染巴贝斯虫；然而，仅有少数病例被记录。本研究旨在鉴定埃及骆驼中的巴贝斯虫种类，特别是微小巴贝斯虫，以及与其相关的硬蜱中的遗传多样性。从开罗和吉萨屠宰场 133 头受感染的单峰驼采集血液和硬蜱样本。研究于 2021 年 2 月至 11 月进行。通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）扩增 18S rRNA 基因来鉴定巴贝斯虫种类。针对β-微管蛋白基因的巢式 PCR 用于鉴定微小巴贝斯虫。通过 DNA 测序确认 PCR 结果。基于β-微管蛋白基因的系统发育分析用于检测和基因型微小巴贝斯虫。在受感染的骆驼中鉴定出三种蜱属（Hyalomma、Rhipicephalus 和 Amblyomma）。在 133 份血液样本中有 3 份（2.3%）检测到巴贝斯虫，而使用 18S rRNA 基因未在硬蜱中检测到巴贝斯虫。在 133 份血液样本中有 9 份（6.8%）鉴定出微小巴贝斯虫，通过β-微管蛋白基因从 Rhipicephalus annulatus 和 Amblyomma cohaerens 中分离出来。β-微管蛋白基因的系统发育分析表明，美国型微小巴贝斯虫在埃及骆驼中流行。本研究结果表明，埃及骆驼可能感染巴贝斯虫和人畜共患的微小巴贝斯虫株，这对公共卫生构成潜在威胁。
