{"title":"Development of a Specific PCR Assay for Theileria sp. Yokoyama and Assessment of Its Potential to Cause Anemia in Cattle","authors":"Iromy Dhananjani Amarasiri, Kalaichelvan Nizanantha, Ngigi Noel Muthoni Mumbi, Isuru Sachintha Kothalawala, Sampath Madusanka, Wettam Perumage Pavithra Sandamali Indrasiri Perera, Hemal Kothalawala, Thillaiampalam Sivakumar, Naoaki Yokoyama","doi":"10.3390/pathogens13090735","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"The clinical implications of Theileria sp. Yokoyama, a recently identified Theileria species in cattle, remain uncertain. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anemia status in cattle infected with Theileria sp. Yokoyama. Blood samples were collected from 206 cattle across seven Veterinary Ranges in Sri Lanka and analyzed for red blood cell (RBC) indices, including hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and RBC counts. Additionally, DNA was extracted from the samples and screened with a newly developed Theileria sp. Yokoyama-specific PCR assay targeting the cytochrome b gene. The PCR results revealed that 60 (29.1%) of the surveyed cattle tested positive for Theileria sp. Yokoyama, with 47 (78.3%) of them being co-infected with other hemopathogen species. Our findings revealed that the cattle breeds, management systems, and tick infestations are potential risk factors for the Theileria sp. Yokoyama infection. Next, we evaluated the anemia status among the surveyed cattle based on the RBC indices. We found that all non-infected cattle were non-anemic. By contrast, anemia was observed in 15 Theileria sp. Yokoyama-infected cattle, including 3 singly infected (anemia rate 3/13, 23.1%) and 12 co-infected cattle (12/47, 25.5%). Our findings suggest that Theileria sp. Yokoyama causes anemia in infected cattle.","PeriodicalId":19758,"journal":{"name":"Pathogens","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.3000,"publicationDate":"2024-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Pathogens","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13090735","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The clinical implications of Theileria sp. Yokoyama, a recently identified Theileria species in cattle, remain uncertain. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the anemia status in cattle infected with Theileria sp. Yokoyama. Blood samples were collected from 206 cattle across seven Veterinary Ranges in Sri Lanka and analyzed for red blood cell (RBC) indices, including hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and RBC counts. Additionally, DNA was extracted from the samples and screened with a newly developed Theileria sp. Yokoyama-specific PCR assay targeting the cytochrome b gene. The PCR results revealed that 60 (29.1%) of the surveyed cattle tested positive for Theileria sp. Yokoyama, with 47 (78.3%) of them being co-infected with other hemopathogen species. Our findings revealed that the cattle breeds, management systems, and tick infestations are potential risk factors for the Theileria sp. Yokoyama infection. Next, we evaluated the anemia status among the surveyed cattle based on the RBC indices. We found that all non-infected cattle were non-anemic. By contrast, anemia was observed in 15 Theileria sp. Yokoyama-infected cattle, including 3 singly infected (anemia rate 3/13, 23.1%) and 12 co-infected cattle (12/47, 25.5%). Our findings suggest that Theileria sp. Yokoyama causes anemia in infected cattle.
期刊介绍:
Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817) publishes reviews, regular research papers and short notes on all aspects of pathogens and pathogen-host interactions. There is no restriction on the length of the papers. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical research in as much detail as possible. Full experimental and/or methodical details must be provided for research articles.