Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with <i>Theileria annulata</i> Infection
<i>Theileria annulata</i> is a tick-associated parasite that causes tropical theileriosis in livestock and is responsible for huge economic losses. Studies have been neglected on the effect of <i>Theileria</i> spp. on cattle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The present s...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/8/1614 |
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| author | Karim Ullah Muhammad Numan Abdulaziz Alouffi Mashal M. Almutairi Hafsa Zahid Majid Khan Zia Ul Islam Atif Kamil Sher Zaman Safi Haroon Ahmed Tetsuya Tanaka Abid Ali |
| author_facet | Karim Ullah Muhammad Numan Abdulaziz Alouffi Mashal M. Almutairi Hafsa Zahid Majid Khan Zia Ul Islam Atif Kamil Sher Zaman Safi Haroon Ahmed Tetsuya Tanaka Abid Ali |
| author_sort | Karim Ullah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Theileria annulata</i> is a tick-associated parasite that causes tropical theileriosis in livestock and is responsible for huge economic losses. Studies have been neglected on the effect of <i>Theileria</i> spp. on cattle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The present study was designed to determine the genetic diversity and assess the risk factors associated with <i>Theileria</i> infection in selected districts of KP. Information on the risk factors related to the <i>Theileria</i> infection was collected through a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from symptomatic cattle from January 2019 to February 2020, identified morphologically through microscopic examination, and processed for molecular characterization using the <i>18S rRNA</i> gene as a genetic marker. Of the 555 cattle examined (136, 24.5%) and (294, 53%) were found positive for <i>Theileria</i> spp. by microscopic examination and a PCR test, respectively. Based on the PCR test, the highest prevalence of infection was found in district Upper Dir (46/75, 61.3%), followed by Lower Dir (54/90, 60%); Malakand (51/88, 57.9%); Peshawar (40/80, 50%); and Charsadda (52/112, 46.4%), with the lowest in Bajaur (51/110, 46.34%). A BLAST analysis of the <i>18S rDNA</i> sequences showed 99.5% identity with <i>T. annulata</i>. In a phylogenetic tree, the <i>18S rDNA</i> sequence of <i>T. annulata</i> clustered with sequences from Pakistan, China, and Italy. A significant association was observed between the prevalence of infection and different host characteristics. The highest infection was found in adult cattle (216/360, 60%); females (218/377, 57.8%); and Holstein Friesian (120/180, 66.6%). <i>Theileria</i> infection was significantly associated with management practices. Higher infection rates were observed in free-grazing cattle (190/412, 42.2%); those kept in unhygienic conditions (246/405, 60.7%); cattle in combined farming systems (165/255, 64.8%); and those in congested stall systems (150/218, 68.8%). Seasonal patterns were found to be significantly associated with infection, and a higher infection rate was observed in summer (215/350, 61.4%) than in winter (79/205, 38.5%). Identified risk factors should be considered in designing practical control approaches to reduce the burden of <i>Theileria</i> infection. Large scale studies are required to explore the diversity of <i>Theileria</i> species in KP, Pakistan. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T09:51:51Z |
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| spelling | doaj.art-57a546e3217e4d2094eaee8a47713cee2023-12-02T00:02:42ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-08-01108161410.3390/microorganisms10081614Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with <i>Theileria annulata</i> InfectionKarim Ullah0Muhammad Numan1Abdulaziz Alouffi2Mashal M. Almutairi3Hafsa Zahid4Majid Khan5Zia Ul Islam6Atif Kamil7Sher Zaman Safi8Haroon Ahmed9Tetsuya Tanaka10Abid Ali11Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanKing Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh 12354, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanDepartment of Biotechnology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, PakistanFaculty of Medicine, Bioscience and Nursing, MAHSA University, Jenjarom 42610, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI), Park Road, Chak Shahzad, Islamabad 45550, PakistanLaboratory of Infectious Diseases, Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, 1-21-24 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, JapanDepartment of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Pakistan<i>Theileria annulata</i> is a tick-associated parasite that causes tropical theileriosis in livestock and is responsible for huge economic losses. Studies have been neglected on the effect of <i>Theileria</i> spp. on cattle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The present study was designed to determine the genetic diversity and assess the risk factors associated with <i>Theileria</i> infection in selected districts of KP. Information on the risk factors related to the <i>Theileria</i> infection was collected through a questionnaire. Blood samples were collected from symptomatic cattle from January 2019 to February 2020, identified morphologically through microscopic examination, and processed for molecular characterization using the <i>18S rRNA</i> gene as a genetic marker. Of the 555 cattle examined (136, 24.5%) and (294, 53%) were found positive for <i>Theileria</i> spp. by microscopic examination and a PCR test, respectively. Based on the PCR test, the highest prevalence of infection was found in district Upper Dir (46/75, 61.3%), followed by Lower Dir (54/90, 60%); Malakand (51/88, 57.9%); Peshawar (40/80, 50%); and Charsadda (52/112, 46.4%), with the lowest in Bajaur (51/110, 46.34%). A BLAST analysis of the <i>18S rDNA</i> sequences showed 99.5% identity with <i>T. annulata</i>. In a phylogenetic tree, the <i>18S rDNA</i> sequence of <i>T. annulata</i> clustered with sequences from Pakistan, China, and Italy. A significant association was observed between the prevalence of infection and different host characteristics. The highest infection was found in adult cattle (216/360, 60%); females (218/377, 57.8%); and Holstein Friesian (120/180, 66.6%). <i>Theileria</i> infection was significantly associated with management practices. Higher infection rates were observed in free-grazing cattle (190/412, 42.2%); those kept in unhygienic conditions (246/405, 60.7%); cattle in combined farming systems (165/255, 64.8%); and those in congested stall systems (150/218, 68.8%). Seasonal patterns were found to be significantly associated with infection, and a higher infection rate was observed in summer (215/350, 61.4%) than in winter (79/205, 38.5%). Identified risk factors should be considered in designing practical control approaches to reduce the burden of <i>Theileria</i> infection. Large scale studies are required to explore the diversity of <i>Theileria</i> species in KP, Pakistan.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/8/1614cattle<i>Theileria annulata</i>risk factors<i>18S rRNA</i>Pakistan |
| spellingShingle | Karim Ullah Muhammad Numan Abdulaziz Alouffi Mashal M. Almutairi Hafsa Zahid Majid Khan Zia Ul Islam Atif Kamil Sher Zaman Safi Haroon Ahmed Tetsuya Tanaka Abid Ali Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with <i>Theileria annulata</i> Infection Microorganisms cattle <i>Theileria annulata</i> risk factors <i>18S rRNA</i> Pakistan |
| title | Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with <i>Theileria annulata</i> Infection |
| title_full | Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with <i>Theileria annulata</i> Infection |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with <i>Theileria annulata</i> Infection |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with <i>Theileria annulata</i> Infection |
| title_short | Molecular Characterization and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with <i>Theileria annulata</i> Infection |
| title_sort | molecular characterization and assessment of risk factors associated with i theileria annulata i infection |
| topic | cattle <i>Theileria annulata</i> risk factors <i>18S rRNA</i> Pakistan |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/8/1614 |
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