Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44000, Thailand.
Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, 44000, Thailand.
Parasitol Res. 2024 Jul 31;123(8):287. doi: 10.1007/s00436-024-08299-7.
Piroplasm including Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in cattle can cause illness that affects livestock productivity, resulting in significant production losses, especially in tropical and subtropical regions such as Thailand. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of bovine piroplasms and to identify these blood parasites based on the 18S ribosomal RNA gene in cattle in the northeastern part of Thailand. Piroplasmid infections among beef and dairy cattle were examined using nested PCR. Furthermore, amplicon DNA was sequenced and analyzed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed to determine the genetic diversity and relationships of the parasite in each area. A total of 141 out of 215 (65.6%) cattle were positive for infection with Babesia or Theileria. DNA analysis revealed that infection by Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, Theileria orientalis, Theileria sinensis, and Theileria sp. were common piroplasms in cattle in this region, with a high sequence shared identity and similarity with each other and clustered with isolates from other countries. This study provides information on the molecular epidemiology and genetic identification of Babesia spp. and Theileria spp. in beef and dairy cattle to provide a better understanding of piroplasm infection in cattle in this region, which will help control these blood parasites. Moreover, this is the first report identifying T. sinensis circulating among Thai cattle.
包括巴贝斯虫属和泰勒虫属在内的血孢子虫可引起牛的疾病，影响牲畜的生产力，导致重大的生产损失，特别是在泰国等热带和亚热带地区。本研究旨在调查泰国东北部牛的血孢子虫的流行情况，并根据 18S 核糖体 RNA 基因鉴定这些血液寄生虫。使用巢式 PCR 检查肉牛和奶牛的血孢子虫感染情况。此外，对扩增子 DNA 进行测序和分析，并构建系统发育树以确定每个地区寄生虫的遗传多样性和关系。在 215 头牛中，共有 141 头（65.6%）牛对巴贝斯虫或泰勒虫呈阳性感染。DNA 分析显示，该地区牛中常见的血孢子虫包括双芽巴贝斯虫、牛巴贝斯虫、东方泰勒虫、中华泰勒虫和泰勒虫属，它们之间具有高度的序列共享同一性和相似性，并与来自其他国家的分离株聚类。本研究提供了关于该地区肉牛和奶牛巴贝斯虫属和泰勒虫属的分子流行病学和遗传鉴定信息，有助于更好地了解该地区牛的血孢子虫感染情况，从而有助于控制这些血液寄生虫。此外，这是首次在泰国牛中发现中华泰勒虫。
