Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area, China
The northwestern region of China, known as the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Area (QTPA), is characterized by unique climate conditions that support the breeding of various highly-adapted livestock species. Tick vectors play a significant role in transmitting <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileri...
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MDPI AG
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/476 |
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| author | Yihong Ma Yingna Jian Geping Wang Xiuping Li Guanghua Wang Yong Hu Naoaki Yokoyama Liqing Ma Xuenan Xuan |
| author_facet | Yihong Ma Yingna Jian Geping Wang Xiuping Li Guanghua Wang Yong Hu Naoaki Yokoyama Liqing Ma Xuenan Xuan |
| author_sort | Yihong Ma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The northwestern region of China, known as the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Area (QTPA), is characterized by unique climate conditions that support the breeding of various highly-adapted livestock species. Tick vectors play a significant role in transmitting <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species, posing serious risks to animal health as well as the economy of animal husbandry in QTPA. A total of 366 blood samples were collected from Tibetan sheep (<i>n</i> = 51), goats (<i>n</i> = 67), yaks (<i>n</i> = 43), cattle (<i>n</i> = 49), Bactrian camels (<i>n</i> = 50), horses (<i>n</i> = 65), and donkeys (<i>n</i> = 40). These samples were examined using conventional and nested PCR techniques to detect <i>Theileria</i> and <i>Babesia</i> species. The overall infection rates were 0.3% (1/366) for <i>Babesia</i> spp. and 38.2% (140/366) for <i>Theileria</i> spp. Notably, neither <i>Babesia</i> nor <i>Theileria</i> species were detected in donkeys and yaks. The infection rates of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species among animals in different prefectures were significantly different (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, <i>Babesia bovis</i>, <i>B. bigemina</i>, <i>B. caballi</i>, and <i>B. ovis</i> were not detected in the current study. To our knowledge, this is the first documented detection of <i>Theileria luwenshuni</i> infection in Bactrian camels and goats, as well as <i>T. sinesis</i> in cattle and <i>T. equi</i> in horses on the Qinghai plateau. These novel findings shed light on the distribution of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species among livestock species in QTPA. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:01:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8bd7d979ac0946e588d47201866bc938 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:01:47Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-8bd7d979ac0946e588d47201866bc9382024-02-09T15:06:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-02-0114347610.3390/ani14030476Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area, ChinaYihong Ma0Yingna Jian1Geping Wang2Xiuping Li3Guanghua Wang4Yong Hu5Naoaki Yokoyama6Liqing Ma7Xuenan Xuan8National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro 080-8555, JapanQinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaQinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaNational Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro 080-8555, JapanQinghai Academy of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Centre for Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, ChinaNational Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro 080-8555, JapanThe northwestern region of China, known as the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Area (QTPA), is characterized by unique climate conditions that support the breeding of various highly-adapted livestock species. Tick vectors play a significant role in transmitting <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species, posing serious risks to animal health as well as the economy of animal husbandry in QTPA. A total of 366 blood samples were collected from Tibetan sheep (<i>n</i> = 51), goats (<i>n</i> = 67), yaks (<i>n</i> = 43), cattle (<i>n</i> = 49), Bactrian camels (<i>n</i> = 50), horses (<i>n</i> = 65), and donkeys (<i>n</i> = 40). These samples were examined using conventional and nested PCR techniques to detect <i>Theileria</i> and <i>Babesia</i> species. The overall infection rates were 0.3% (1/366) for <i>Babesia</i> spp. and 38.2% (140/366) for <i>Theileria</i> spp. Notably, neither <i>Babesia</i> nor <i>Theileria</i> species were detected in donkeys and yaks. The infection rates of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species among animals in different prefectures were significantly different (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, <i>Babesia bovis</i>, <i>B. bigemina</i>, <i>B. caballi</i>, and <i>B. ovis</i> were not detected in the current study. To our knowledge, this is the first documented detection of <i>Theileria luwenshuni</i> infection in Bactrian camels and goats, as well as <i>T. sinesis</i> in cattle and <i>T. equi</i> in horses on the Qinghai plateau. These novel findings shed light on the distribution of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species among livestock species in QTPA.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/476<i>Theileria</i> spp.<i>Babesia</i> spp.Qinghai–Tibaten plateau areaChina |
| spellingShingle | Yihong Ma Yingna Jian Geping Wang Xiuping Li Guanghua Wang Yong Hu Naoaki Yokoyama Liqing Ma Xuenan Xuan Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area, China Animals <i>Theileria</i> spp. <i>Babesia</i> spp. Qinghai–Tibaten plateau area China |
| title | Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area, China |
| title_full | Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area, China |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area, China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area, China |
| title_short | Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> Infections in Livestock in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau Area, China |
| title_sort | molecular identification of i babesia i and i theileria i infections in livestock in the qinghai tibetan plateau area china |
| topic | <i>Theileria</i> spp. <i>Babesia</i> spp. Qinghai–Tibaten plateau area China |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/3/476 |
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