Molecular detection of Theileria species, Anaplasma species, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos, Trypanosoma evansi and first evidence of Theileria sinensis-associated bovine anaemia in crossbred Kedah-Kelantan x Brahman cattle

Abstract

Background Serious disease outbreaks in cattle are usually associated with blood pathogens. This study aims to detect blood pathogens namely Theileria species, Anaplasma species, Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos and Trypanosoma evansi, and determine their phylogenetic relationships and haemato-biochemical abnormalities in naturally infected cattle. Methods Molecular analysis was achieved by PCR amplification and sequencing of PCR amplicons of 18SrRNA gene of Theileria species, 16SrRNA genes of Anaplasma and Mycoplasma species, MPSP genes of T. orientalis and T. sinensis, MSP4 gene of A. marginale, 16SrRNA gene of Candidatus Mycoplasma haemobos, and RoTat1.2 VSG gene of Trypanosoma evansi, in sixty-one (61) clinically ill Kedah-Kelantan x Brahman cattle in Pahang, Malaysia. Results A total of 44 (72.13%) cattle were infected with more than one blood pathogen. Theileria species was the blood pathogen with the highest molecular detection rate (72.13, 95% CI 59.83–81.81%). Nucleotide blast analyses of all sequences demonstrated high degree of molecular similarity (98–100%) in comparison with their respective reference sequences. Analysis of 18SrRNA gene sequences of Theileria species and 16SrRNA gene sequences of Anaplasma species revealed Theileria sinensis and Anaplasma platys respectively as additional species detected in these cattle. MPSP-PCR analysis was conducted for further confirmation of T. sinensis. The blood picture of eight infected cattle groups revealed poikilocytosis, anisocytosis, rouleaux formation and degenerative left shift. High mean erythrocyte fragility values were common in infected cattle groups. Anaemia of the macrocytic normochromic type and spherocytes were observed in the T. evansi and Anaplasma platys + Theileria sinensis double species co-infected cattle group. Normocytic normochromic anaemia was observed in the T. sinensis infected cattle group. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in serum liver and kidney parameters, total protein, globulin, total and unconjugated bilirubin and decreased albumin values were observed in the T. evansi infected cattle when compared to clinically healthy cattle. Conclusion We present the first evidence of Theileria sinensis-associated bovine anaemia (TSABA) in Malaysian cattle. Because of the high occurrence of bovine theileriosis and detection of A. platys, there is an urgent need for appropriate preventive and control measures against these blood pathogens.

Preliminary study on prevalence of hemoprotozoan parasites harbored by Stomoxys (Diptera: Muscidae) and tabanid flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in horse farms in Nakhon Si Thammarat province, Southern Thailand

“…Theileria sinensis is classified as a benign Theileria species responsible for bovine theileriosis and causes benign infections in large ruminants [32]. It has been recently reported in China, Malaysia, and Russia [33][34][35]. In this study, T. sinensis DNA was detected in S. calcitrans, S. sitiens, A. cryptotaxis, and T. megalops.…”

Genetic Characterization of the RAP-1A and SBP-4 Genes of Babesia Species Infecting Cattle from Selangor, Malaysia, and Ribah, Nigeria

“…Five mL of blood was collected aseptically from the jugular vein of each cattle using a blood vacutainer out of which three mL and two mL from each collected sample were placed into a different Eethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ( EDTA ) tube [ 24 ] to be used for microscopic detection of Babesia spp. and PCR detection of Babesia spp., respectively.…”

“…The association between BCS and the presence of Babesia spp. infection, was determined using chi-square [ 24 , 31 ], and statistical significance was inferred at p < 0.05.…”

Relationship between parasitism with milk yield and body weight of Mafriwal cattle

“…The prevalence of multiple haemoparasite species such as Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., Mycoplasma spp, Theileria spp., and Trypanosoma spp. in the cattle farms in Peninsular Malaysia has been reported previously (Ola-Fadunsin et al, 2017;Agina et al, 2021) and anaplasmosis is known to be endemic in Malaysia (Tay et al, 2014).…”