title: Quest for the piroplasms in camels: identification of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Jordanian dromedaries by PCR.
abstract: DNA of two species of piroplasmids was detected in dromedaries during a survey of blood protozoans in Jordan between 2007 and 2009. Ten clinically healthy camels (10%) originating from three Jordanian districts were found, using a PCR assay, to harbor Theileria or Babesia species in their blood and no mix infection was determined. Analysis of the partial 18S rRNA gene sequences of these parasites allowed their unambiguous identification as equine piroplasmids Babesia caballi (n=6) and Theileria equi (n=4). In case of latter species, a novel genotype was found in horses. This first molecular-based species determination of piroplasmids from camels further contributes to the growing evidence of low host specificity of piroplasmids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic. moneeb_78@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Moneeb Ahmad
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Qablan
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sloboda
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jirků
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oborník
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dwairi
authors.forename: Zuhair Sami
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Amr
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hořín
authors.forename: Julius
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lukeš
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Modrý
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002162:Camelus / Q000469:parasitology*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D006736:Horses; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D016794:Theileria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology