Skip to content
Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter October 15, 2017

Animal level risk factors associated with Babesia and Theileria infections in cattle in Egypt

  • Mohamed Abdo Rizk , Akram Salama , Shimaa Abd-El-Salam El-Sayed , Ahmed Elsify , Maged El-ashkar , Hussam Ibrahim , Mohamed Youssef and Sabry El-Khodery EMAIL logo
From the journal Acta Parasitologica

Abstract

In present study, blood samples were collected randomly from 439 cows at three main regions of Egypt (northern, central and southern). Molecular diagnosis of Babesia and Theileria infections by PCR amplification of DNA (gene) fragments, then cloning and sequencing of the positive samples were conducted. A questionnaire was created to imply the assumed risk factors and logistic regression statistical analysis was carried out to appraise the potential factors on the animal level. The results revealed that 49 (11.16%) and 45 (10.25%) cattle were infected with Babesia and Theileria parasites, respectively. B. bigemina (7.97%) and T. annulata (9.56%) were the most prevalent parasites. For Babesia sp., final multivariate logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between the infection and irregular use of antiprotozoal drugs (P = 0.003; OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.12–0.65), management practice (P = 0.029; OR: 6.66; 95% CI: 1.21–36.59) and ecology area (P = 0.006; OR: 5.62; 95% CI: 1.63–19.31). However, for Theileria sp. infection, animal breed (P = 0.003; OR: 0.44; 95% CI: .45–1.00) and irregular use of antiprotozoal drugs (P<0.001; OR: 4.22; 95% CI: 2.62–5.60) were the potential risk factors. The results of the present study declare the prevalent bovine Babesia and Theileria sp. in Egypt based on molecular description. An impression on the potential risk factors associated with infections was obtained. Recognition of the potential risk factors associated with tick borne disease may be helpful to construct the best preventive measures.

  1. Conflict of interest: There are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.

References

Acici M. 1995. Prevalence of blood parasites in cattle in the Samsun region Turkey. Etlik Veteriner Mikrobiyoloji Dergisi, 8, 271–277Search in Google Scholar

Adam K., Blewett D., Collins T., Edgar J. 1978. Outbreaks of babesiasis on two farms in Scotland [beef and dairy cattle]. British Veterinary Journal, 134, 428–43310.1016/S0007-1935(17)33384-5Search in Google Scholar

Adham F.K., Abd-El-Samie E.M., Gabre R.M., El-Hussein H. 2009. Detection of tick blood parasites in Egypt using PCR assay I—Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina. Parasitology Research, 105, 721–30. 10.1007/s00436-009-1443-8Search in Google Scholar

Altay K., Aydin M.F., Dumanli N., Aktas M. 2008. Molecular detection of Theileria and Babesia infections in cattle. Veterinary Parasitolology, 158, 295–301. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.09.025Search in Google Scholar

Bawm S., Htun L.L., Maw N.N., Ngwe T., Tosa Y., Kon T., et al. 2016. Molecular survey of Babesia infections in cattle from different areas of Myanmar. Ticks and Tick Borne Diseases, 7, 204–207. 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.10.010Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Cameron A. 1999. Survey Toolbox: A Practical Manual and Software Package for Active Surveillance of Livestock Diseases in Developing Countries. Australian Centre for International Agricultural ResearchSearch in Google Scholar

Cat J., Beugnet F., Hoch T., Jongejan F., Prangé A., Chalvet-Monfray K. 2017. Influence of the spatial heterogeneity in tick abundance in the modeling of the seasonal activityof Ixodes ricinus nymphs in Western Europe. Experimental Applied acarology, 71, 115–130. 10.1007/s10493-016-0099-1Search in Google Scholar

Chaudhry Z., Suleman M., Younus M., Aslim A. 2010. Molecular detection of Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis in crossbred carrier cattle through PCR. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 42, 201–204Search in Google Scholar

Christensson D.A., Thorburn M.A. 1987. Age distribution of naturally occurring acute babesiosis in cattle in Sweden. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 28, 373–379.10.1186/BF03548605Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Coles G.C. 2001. The future of veterinary parasitology. Veterinary Parasitology, 98, 31–3910.1016/S0304-4017(01)00421-6Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Costa-Junior L.M., Rabelo E.M., Martins Filho O.A., Ribeiro M.F. 2006. Comparison of different direct diagnostic methods to identify Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in animals vaccinated with live attenuated parasites. Veterinary Parasitolology, 139, 231–236. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.02.034Search in Google Scholar

El-Ashker M., Hotzel H., Gwida M., El-Beskawy M., Silaghi C., Tomaso H. 2015. Molecular biological identification of Babesia, Theileria, and Anaplasma species in cattle in Egypt using PCR assays, gene sequence analysis and a novel DNA microarray. Veterinary Parasitology, 207, 329–334. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.12.025Search in Google Scholar

El-Fayomy A.O., Ghoneim A.M., Abu-Samak O.A., Khidr A.A. 2013. Contribution of Babesia to the illness of cows in Port Said Governorate, Egypt. Global Veteterinaria, 11, 118–222Search in Google Scholar

Figueroa J.V., Chieves L.P., Johnson G.S., Buening G.M. 1993. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction based assay for the detection of Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis and Anaplasma marginale DNA in bovine blood. Veterinary Parasitolology, 50, 69–8110.1016/0304-4017(93)90008-BSearch in Google Scholar

Gray J.S., Fitzgerald E., Strickland K.L. 1983. Prevalence of clinical babesiosis in an area in north Co Meath, Ireland. Veterinary Record, 113, 537–539Search in Google Scholar

Ibrahim A., Elbehairy A., Mahran K., Awad W. 2009. Clinical and laboratory diagnosis of piroplasmids in naturally infected cattle in Egypt. Journal of Egyptian Veterinary Medical Association, 69, 197–209Search in Google Scholar

Ibrahim H.M., Adjou Moumouni P.F., Mohammed-Geba K., Sheir S.K., Hashem I.S., Cao S., et al. 2013. Molecular and serological prevalence of Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis in cattle and water buffalos under small-scale dairy farming in Beheira and Faiyum Provinces, Egypt. Veterinary Parasitology, 198, 187–192. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.08.028Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Kirvar E., Ilhan T., Katzer F., Hooshmand-Rad P., Zweygarth E., Gersten- berg C., Phipps P., Brown C.G.D. 2000. Detection of Theileria annulata in cattle and vector ticks by PCR using the Tams1 gene sequences. Parasitology, 120, 245–25410.1017/S0031182099005466Search in Google Scholar PubMed

L’hostis M., Chauvin A., Valentin A., Marchand A., Gorenflot A. 1995. Large scale survey of bovine babesiosis due to Babesia divergens in France. Veterinary Record, 136, 36–3810.1136/vr.136.2.36Search in Google Scholar

Langley R.J., Gray J.S. 1987. Age-related susceptibility of the gerbil, Meriones unguiculatus, to the bovine parasite, Babesia divergens. Experimental Parasitology, 64, 466–47310.1016/0014-4894(87)90061-0Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Li Y., Luo Y., Cao S., Terkawi M.A., Lan D.T., Long P.T., et al. 2014. Molecular and seroepidemiological survey of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infections in cattle and water buffaloes in the central region of Vietnam. Tropical Biomedicine, 31, 406–413Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Lozano D.F.A. 2011. Modeling of parasitic diseases with vector of transmission: toxoplasmosis and babesiosis bovine: Universitat Politècnica de València. 10.4995/Thesis/10251/11539Search in Google Scholar

M’ghirbi Y., Hurtado A., Barandika J.F., Khlif K., Ketata Z., Bouattour A. 2008. A molecular survey of Theileria and Babesia parasites in cattle, with a note on the distribution of ticks in Tunisia. Parasitology Research, 103, 435–442. 10.1007/s00436-008-0995-3Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Mahmmod Y. 2012. Molecular detection of natural Babesia bovis infection from clinically infected and apparently healthy water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) and crossbred cattle. Journal of Buffalo Science 1, 55–60. 10.6000/1927-520X.2012. 01.01.10Search in Google Scholar

Nayel M., El-Dakhly K.M., Aboulaila M., Elsify A., Hassan H., Ibrahim E., et al. 2012. The use of different diagnostic tools for Babesia and Theileria parasites in cattle in Menofia, Egypt. Parasitology Research, 111, 1019–1024. 10.1007/s00436-012-2926-6Search in Google Scholar

Ogden N.H., Gwakisa P., Swai E., French N.P., Fitzpatrick J., Kambarage D., et al. 2003. Evaluation of PCR to detect Theileria parva in field-collected tick and bovine samples in Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology, 112, 177–183. 10.1016/S0304-4017(02)00448-XSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

Oie A. 2008. Manual of diagnostic tests and vaccines for terrestrial animals. Office International des Epizooties, Paris, France, 1092–1106Search in Google Scholar

Ota N., Mizuno D., Kuboki N., et al. 2009. Epidemiological survey of Theileria orientalis infection in grazing cattle in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 71, 937–944. http://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.71.93710.1292/jvms.71.937Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Rizk M.A., El-Sayed S.A., Terkawi M.A., et al. 2015. Optimization of a Fluorescence-Based Assay for Large-Scale Drug Screening against Babesia and Theileria Parasites. PLoS One 10. 10.1371/journal.pone.0125276Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Safieldin M., Gadir A., Elmalik K. 2010. Factors affecting seasonal prevalence of blood parasites in dairy cattle in Omdurman locality, Sudan. Veterinary Research, 3, 32–37. 10.3923/vr.2010.32.37Search in Google Scholar

Schulze T. L., Jordan R. A., Schulze C. J., Hung R. W. 2009. Precipitation and temperature as predictors of local abundance of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs. Journal of Medical. Entomology, 46, 1025–102910.1603/033.046.0508Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Shahnawaz S., Ali M., Aslam M.A., Fatima R., Chaudhry Z.I., Hassan M.U.,, et al. 2011. A study on the prevalence of a tick-transmitted pathogen, Theileria annulata, and hematological profile of cattle from Southern Punjab (Pakistan). Parasitology Research, 109, 1155–1160. 10.1007/s00436-011-2360-1Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Silva M.G., Henriques G., Sanchez C., Marques P.X., Suarez C.E., Oliva A. 2009. First survey for Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection in cattle from Central and Southern regions of Portugal using serological and DNA detection methods. Veterinary Parasitology, 166, 66–72. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.07.031Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Singh A., Singh H., Singh N., Singh N., Rath S. 2014. Canine babesiosis in northwestern India: molecular detection and assessment of risk factors. BioMed research international, 1–5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/74178510.1155/2014/741785Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Sivakumar T., Kothalawala H., Abeyratne S.A., Vimalakumar S.C., Meewewa A.S., Hadirampela D.T., et al. 2012. A PCR-based survey of selected Babesia and Theileria parasites in cattle in Sri Lanka. Veterinary Parasitology, 190, 263–267. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.05.014Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Spickler A.R. (Ed.) 2010. Emerging and exotic diseases of animals. first edition, CFSPH Iowa State University, USASearch in Google Scholar

Sungirai M., Madder M., Moyo DZ., De Clercq P., Abatih E.N. 2015. An update on the ecological distribution of the Ixodidae ticks in Zimbabwe. Experimental Applied acarology, 66, 269–280. 10.1007/s10493-015-9892-5Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Uilenberg G. 2006. Babesia—a historical overview. VeterinaryParasitology, 138, 3–10. 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.01.035Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Wright I.G., Goodger B.V., Leatch G., Aylward J.H., Rode-Bramanis K., Waltisbuhl D.J. 1987. Protection of Babesia bigemina-immune animals against subsequent challenge with virulent Babesia bovis. Infection and Immunity, 55, 364–38810.1128/iai.55.2.364-368.1987Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Yu L., Terkawi M.A., Cruz-Flores M.J., Claveria F.G., Aboge G.O., Yamagishi J., et al. 2013. Epidemiological survey of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infections of cattle in Philippines. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 75, 995–998. 10.1292/jvms.12-0425Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Zintl A., Mulcahy G., Skerrett H.E., Taylor S.M., Gray J.S. 2003. Babesia divergens, a bovine blood parasite of veterinary and zoonotic importance. Clinical Microbiology Review, 16, 622–636. 10.1128/CMR.16.4.622-636.2003Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Received: 2017-3-20
Revised: 2017-8-4
Accepted: 2017-8-8
Published Online: 2017-10-15
Published in Print: 2017-12-20

© 2017 W. Stefański Institute of Parasitology, PAS

Downloaded on 30.3.2024 from https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/ap-2017-0096/html
Scroll to top button