Detection of Theileria orientalis infection in indigenous buffaloes of West Azarbaijan province using molecular and microscopic tests

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

Babak Narimani ¹ (D.V.Sc. Graduate, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)
Nasser Hoghooghirad ² (Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)
Parviz Shayan ³ (Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.)
Sadegh Rahbari ⁴ (Professor, Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.)
Kasra Esmaeil-Nia ⁵ (Professor, Department of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, AREEO, Karaj, Iran.)

Received: 2017-10-07 Accepted : 2019-04-08 Published : 2019-04-21

Keywords: Buffalo, Molecular detection, Theileria orientalis, Microscopic examination, West Azarbaijan,

Abstract :

The causative agent of bovine theileriosis is obligatory intracellular protozoa called T. annulata which results in severe anemia, severe pulmonary edema and rapid death in non-native animals. The present study was aimed to detect the current state of Theileria infection in indigenous buffaloes and its association with environmental factors in four cities of West Azarbaijan province using microscopic tests (blood smear evaluation) and molecular assays. Blood samples were randomly collected from 291 buffaloes in the region, during March to July 2014. Direct and semi-nested PCR techniques were used to detect DNA of Theileria spp. using specific pair primer 18SrRNA. In the microscopic assay method, presence of this parasite in four (1.37%) buffaloes was approved. The molecular assays revealed that 4 out of 291 animals (1.37%) were infected by T. annulata. Also the present study showed that two female adult buffaloes (0.68%) were simultaneously infected by T. annulata and T. orientalis. Apparent and real prevalence of infection of buffaloes to T. annulata in the molecular method were 1.37 and 1 percent respectively. The chance of infection by T. annulata and T. orientalis were equal. Molecular prevalence of T. annulata in Urmia and Salmas were 2.2 and 2.3 percent respectively (p < /em><0.05). Molecular prevalence of T. orientalisin Urmia was 2.2%. This is the first study to indicate the presence of infection with T. orientalis in indigenous buffaloes of Urmia city in Iran.

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