Microscopic and Molecular detection of Theileria (Babesia) equi infection in equids of Kurdistan Province, Iran
Habibi، Gholamreza نويسنده Student of Mathematical Statistics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Imam Khomeini International University, Qazvin, IRAN , , Esmaeilnia، Kasra نويسنده Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran Esmaeilnia, Kasra , HABLOLVARID، Mohammad Hasan نويسنده Dept. of Pathology of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran HABLOLVARID, Mohammad Hasan , Afshari، Asghar نويسنده Department of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran. Afshari, Asghar , ZAMEN، Mohsen نويسنده Dept. of Immunization of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran ZAMEN, Mohsen , BOZORGI، Soghra نويسنده Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran BOZORGI, Soghra
Background: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is the cause of persistent tick-borne infection with no symptoms, but the most important problem of EP is due to the persistent carrier state. Carrier animals to Babesia (Theileria) equi (Laveran 1901) and B. caballi (Nuttall, 1910) infestation could be identified by extremely sensitive PCR-based method. The purpose of this study was to identify the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis based on molecular and microscopic assays in equids from Kurdistan Province, Iran.
Methods: Thirty one horse and mule blood samples were used with history of living in Kurdistan Province of Iran. The blood specimens were utilized for T. equi and B. caballi DNA identification by PCR and Giemsa stained smears for microscopic observation.
Results: The results clearly showed the presence of B. (Theileria) equi DNA in 30 of 31 blood samples (96.77%), but the microscopic examination revealed the 3 of 31 positive Babesia like organisms in the red blood cells (9.67%).
Conclusion: The obtained results demonstrated the presence of hidden B. (Theileria) equi infection in horses with previous habitance in Kurdistan Province of Iran. The carrier animals became a main source of infection and can transmit the disease. Therefore, hidden infection might be considered as a health threatening and limiting factor in animals used in therapeutic antisera research and production centers.