Title of article :
Molecular epidemiology, risk factors and hematological evaluation of asymptomatic Theileria annulata infected cattle in Odisha, India
Author/Authors :
Selim, A. M. Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt , Das, M. Department of Clinical Medicine - College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry - Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar 751003, Odisha, India , Senapati, S. K. Department of Clinical Medicine - College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry - Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar 751003, Odisha, India , Jena, G. R. Department of Clinical Medicine - College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry - Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar 751003, Odisha, India , Mishra, C. Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics - College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry - Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar 751003, Odisha, India , Mohanty, B. Department of Veterinary Parasitology - College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry - Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar 751003, Odisha, India , Panda, S. K. Department of Veterinary Pathology - College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry - Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar 751003, Odisha, India , Patra, R. C. Department of Clinical Medicine - College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry - Odisha University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneshwar 751003, Odisha, India
Abstract :
Background: Theileria annulata is a tick-borne apicomplexan parasite that affects bovine and causes severe economic losses.
Aims: Our study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of T. annulata infection in asymptomatic carrier cattle in Odisha,
India, to study the association of potential risk factors with theileriosis, and to investigate the effect of the parasite infection on
hematological parameters in naturally affected animals. Methods: A total of 226 cattle blood samples were collected from seven
districts of Odisha, India. Molecular diagnoses of tropical theileriosis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cloning, sequencing, and
phylogenetic analysis of isolated parasites were performed. Potential risk factors were investigated by univariable and multivariable
logistic regression statistical analysis. Hematological parameters were compared between positive and negative animals. Results: All
animals included in our study were clinically normal, however, 54.86% (124/226) of examined animals were positive by PCR for T.
annulata. The multivariable logistic regression showed that contact with other cattle from different herds during grazing (P<0.0001;
OR: 12.75; 95% CI: 5.21-31.21), previous history of clinical signs (P=0.002; OR: 3.31; 95% CI: 1.53-6.31), and frequency of a
ectoparasiticides application pre year (P<0.0001; OR: 9.22; 95% CI: 3.03-28.09) were the potential risk factors for the occurrence of
tropical theileriosis. Nucleotide sequence identity data demonstrated that T. annulata strain (MN818858) Odisha shared homology of
99.6%, 99.49%, and 99.36% with Uttar Pradesh, India (MF346035), Bahrain (AF214797), and Hyderabad, India (MK034702),
respectively. Conclusion: This is the first study to gain insight into the molecular epidemiology, risk factors, phylogeny, and
hematological analysis of asymptomatic T. annulata infected cattle from India.
Keywords :
Cattle , Epidemiology , India , PCR , Theileria annulata
