Molecular Prevalence of Theileriosis in Calf at Babylon, Iraq
Molecular Prevalence of Theileriosis in Calf at Babylon, Iraq
Ahmed Kareem Kadhim Al-Wasmee1, Waddah Salam Hassone2, Hawraa Talib Al-Janabi3, Hamed AH Al-Jabory1
ABSTRACT
Theileria annulata, a tick-borne hemoprotozoan parasite that result in a tropical theileriosis in bovine herds and causes significant economic losses in the cattle sector. We estimated and interpreted the frequency of theileriosis in the calf herds in Babylon Province. We carried out the study from July until the end of December 2022 in several regions of Babylon Province. Ninety jugular vein blood samples were collected. The calves ranged from <1 M to ≥4 M and both sexes were represented. Two ml of blood were placed in sterile, EDTA-treated tubes, and were sent to the parasitology lab in an ice pack. The blood was put in a deep freezer set at -20oC for DNA extraction. This genomic DNA purification was used following the instructions provided in the kit to extract the parasite DNA. The results revealed that the rates of infection of calves with T. anullata in Babylon Province were 36/90. The infection rate of T. anullata was recorded for females (47.5%) and males (34 %). Results showed that the highest infection rate (62.5%) was recorded at the <1 M, (39.1%), at 1-2 M, (20%) at 2-3 M, (22.7%) at the 3-4 M, and the lowest infection rate (14.3%) was recorded at the ≥4 M. The infection rate of calves with T. anullata (46.7%) was recorded in July. The highest infection rate (66.7%) was recorded in August and September; (33.3%) in October, and the lowest infection rate (13.3%) was recorded in November and December. There was a greater infection in female calves compared to males. Furthermore, there was an association between the disease and the surrounding temperature. These results serve as a starting point and make it easier to conduct future extensive epidemiological studies on tropical theileriosis in the calf herd on a national scale.
Keywords | Prevalence, Calf, Theileriosis, Molecular study
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