title: An epidemiological survey of Theileria infections in small ruminants in central China.
abstract: Here, we conducted an epidemiological study in five regions in central China to assess the impact of theileriosis on small ruminants. PCR analysis and microscopic evaluations of blood smears to detect ovine and caprine theileriosis was conducted, in which 256 blood samples and 250 ticks were collected from sheep and goats, and tested for Theileria uilenbergi, T. luwenshuni, and T. ovis. The 18S rRNA gene sequences were deduced from positive samples and used for phylogenetic analysis. The results showed that T. luwenshuni was found most frequently in the five investigated regions and the prevalence of T. luwenshuni was found to be very high by PCR analysis. In contrast, T. uilenbergi and T. ovis infections were not detected in these regions. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed that all of the newly isolated Theileria spp. was in the same clade as T. luwenshuni. Haemaphysalis longicornis, which can transmit T. luwenshuni, was also detected in the sampled sheep and goats in these regions. Our results provide important data to increase the understanding of the epidemiology of ovine and caprine theileriosis, and will aid in the implementation of measures to control theileriosis transmission to small ruminants in central China.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Youquan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhijie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Ze
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Jifei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Haining
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Guiquan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Aihong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiaoyun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Qingli
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Junlong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianxun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Key Laboratory of Veterinary Parasitology of Gansu Province, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China; Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Xujiaping 1, Lanzhou, Gansu 730046, PR China. Electronic address: yinhong@caas.cn.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D006041:Goats; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000235:genetics; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D016794:Theileria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S
keywords: Central China; Epidemiological survey; PCR; Small ruminants; Theileria spp.