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Molecular evidence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in equines and ticks in Nigeria: prevalence and risk factors analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2020

ThankGod E. Onyiche Open the ORCID record for ThankGod E. Onyiche [Opens in a new window] ,
Moeti O. Taioe ,
Ndudim I. Ogo ,
Thillaiampalam Sivakumar ,
Abdullahi A. Biu ,
Albert W. Mbaya ,
Xuenan Xuan ,
Naoaki Yokoyama  and
Oriel Thekisoe
ThankGod E. Onyiche*
Affiliation:
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom2520, South Africa Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Maiduguri600230, Nigeria National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido080-8555, Japan
Moeti O. Taioe
Affiliation:
National Zoological Gardens of South Africa, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria0001, South Africa
Ndudim I. Ogo
Affiliation:
Parasitology Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
Thillaiampalam Sivakumar
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido080-8555, Japan
Abdullahi A. Biu
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Maiduguri600230, Nigeria
Albert W. Mbaya
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, P. M. B. 1069, Maiduguri600230, Nigeria
Xuenan Xuan
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido080-8555, Japan
Naoaki Yokoyama
Affiliation:
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido080-8555, Japan
Oriel Thekisoe
Affiliation:
Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom2520, South Africa
*
Author for correspondence: ThankGod E. Onyiche, E-mail: et.onyiche@unimaid.edu.ng
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Abstract

Babesia caballi and Theileria equi are biological agents responsible for equine piroplasmosis (EP). We conducted a robust and extensive epidemiological study in Nigeria on the prevalence and risk factors of EP. Blood (468, both horses and donkeys) and ticks (201 pools) were screened using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA of equine piroplasms was observed in tick pools with B. caballi amplified in Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi only [minimum infection rate (MIR) of 7.6%] while T. equi was observed in R. e. evertsi (MIR, 61.6%), Hyalomma dromedarii (MIR, 23.7%) and H. truncatum (MIR, 50.0%). Overall results showed that 196/468 (41.9%) animals were positive for equine piroplasms (both B. caballi and T. equi). The prevalence for T. equi was 189/468 (40.4%) compared to 7/468 (1.5%) for B. caballi. In the horses and donkeys, respectively, the prevalence for T. equi was (39.9%; 112/281) and (41.2%; 77/187) compared with (1.4%; 4/281) and (1.6%; 3/187) due to B. caballi. Our analysis showed that location (Jigawa state), Talon breed, horses used for work and reproduction, unsatisfactory husbandry practices, contact with other mammals are risk factors that associated positivity to T. equi infection in horses, whilst horses kept on intensive management appeared to be less prone to infection. On the other hand, Jangora breed of donkeys and location (Jigawa state) are risk factors to infection with T. equi in donkeys. Findings suggest the persistence of EP in equids and ticks in Nigeria.

Keywords

Babesia caballiequinesNigeriarisk factorsTheileria equi
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 147 , Issue 11 , September 2020 , pp. 1238 - 1248
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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