Molecular survey and genetic diversity of piroplasmids in equids from Midwestern Brazil

Abstract

We evaluated the distribution of piroplasmids in equids from the Mato Grosso state in Midwestern Brazil using molecular methods and the interspecific genetic diversity. For this, 1,624 blood samples of equids from 973 farms were examined by PCR, using primer pairs that amplify a fragment of the genes rap-1 and ema-1 of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, respectively. For molecular characterization and phylogenetic studies, 13 and 60 sequences of the rap-1 and ema-1 genes, respectively, were used to build a dendogram using maximum parsimony. B. caballi and T. equi were detected in 4.11% and 28.16% of the farms, respectively, and molecular prevalence was 2.74% for B. caballi and 25.91% for T. equi. The location of the farms and animals raised in the Pantanal ecoregion influence the probability of equids testing positive for B. caballi and T. equi . Moreover, age and herd purpose were variables significantly associated with T . equi infection. The sequences of B. caballi presented 1.95% intraspecific variability, contrasting with 2.99% in T. equi. Dendrograms for both species demonstrated the presence of subgroups with high values of support of branches. However, it is not possible to associate these groups with geographic origin and/or ecoregion.

Serological detection and risk factors for equine piroplasmosis in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

“…Serological studies on B. caballi and T. equi have been conducted in the south, southeast and central-west regions of Brazil, which have revealed B. caballi prevalence rates varying from 18 to 90% (BARBOSA et al, 1995;HEUCHERT et al, 1999;HEIM et al, 2007;KERBER et al, 2009;VIEIRA et al, 2013;NOGUEIRA et al, 2017;BRAGA et al, 2017) and T. equi prevalence rates from 17 to 100% (TENTER & FRIEDHOFF, 1986;BARBOSA et al, 1995;RIBEIRO et al, 1999;HEUCHERT et al, 1999;XUAN et al, 2001;HEIM et al, 2007;GOLYNSKI et al, 2008;KERBER et al, 1999KERBER et al, , 2009BALDANI et al, 2010;SALVAGNI et al, 2010;VIEIRA et al, 2013;PROCHNO et al, 2014;VIEIRA et al, 2015VIEIRA et al, , 2018FERREIRA et al, 2016;GUIMARÃES et al, 2016;BRAGA et al, 2017;SCHEIN et al, 2018). However, such studies have rarely been carried out in northeastern Brazil.…”

Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Chilean Thoroughbred Racing Horses

“…The overall molecular occurrence for EP agents obtained in thoroughbred horses from Chilean racecourses (B. caballi [5.4%], T. equi [44.2%], co-infection [3.9%]) was lower than previously described in South America (B. caballi [23.5%], T. equi [84.3%], co-infection [22%]) [40,41]. As a global trend [9], T. equi is more prevalent than B. caballi, whereas co-infection is less frequent.…”

Principais doenças parasitárias e infecciosas em equinos do Pantanal

“…Segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde Animal (OIE), países da América Central e do Sul, Cuba, África, Ásia, Europa Oriente Médio e algumas regiões do sul dos Estados Unidos são considerados como áreas de ocorrência de B. caballi e T. equi, sendo que a última espécie apresenta uma distribuição mais ampla (SCHEN et al, 2018;OIE, 2021). Na América do Sul, a ocorrência da doença é reconhecida em todos os países, com exceção de regiões mais ao sul do Chile e Argentina.…”