title: Molecular epidemiology of bovine Babesia spp. and Theileria orientalis parasites in beef cattle from northern and northeastern Thailand.
abstract: Beef cattle production represents the largest cattle population in Thailand. Their productivity is constrained by tick-borne diseases such as babesiosis and theileriosis. In this study, we determined the prevalence of Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis and Theileria orientalis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The genetic markers that were used for detection of the above parasites were sequenced to determine identities and similarity for Babesia spp. and genetic diversity of T. orientalis. Furthermore the risk factors for the occurrence of the above protozoan parasites in beef cattle from northern and northeastern parts of Thailand were assessed. A total of 329 blood samples were collected from beef cattle in 6 provinces. The study revealed that T. orientalis was the most prevalent (30.1%) parasite in beef cattle followed by B. bigemina (13.1%) and B. bovis (5.5%). Overall, 78.7% of the cattle screened were infected with at least one of the above parasites. Co-infection with Babesia spp. and T. orientalis was 30.1%. B. bigemina and T. orientalis were the most prevalent (15.1%) co-infection although triple infection with the three parasites was observed in 3.0% of the samples. Sequencing analysis revealed that B. bigemina RAP1 gene and B. bovis SBP2 gene were conserved among the parasites from different cattle samples. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the T. orientalis MPSP gene from parasites isolated from cattle in north and northeast Thailand was classified into types 5 and 7 as reported previously. Lack of tick control program was the universal risk factor of the occurrence of Babesia spp. and T. orientalis infection in beef cattle in northern and northeastern Thailand. We therefore recommend training of farmers on appropriate tick control strategies and further research on potential vectors for T. orientalis and elucidate the effect of co-infection with Babesia spp. on the pathogenicity of T. orientalis infection on beef in northern and northeastern Thailand.
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Charoonluk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jirapattharasate
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Paul Franck
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Adjou Moumouni
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Aiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Mingming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Guanbo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Mo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vudriko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
authors.forename: Tanasak
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Changbunjong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pre-clinic and Applied Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
authors.forename: Sivapong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sungpradit
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
authors.forename: Parntep
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ratanakorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Science and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
authors.forename: Walasinee
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Moonarmart
authors.affiliation: The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
authors.forename: Poonyapat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sedwisai
authors.affiliation: The Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Salaya, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand.
authors.forename: Thekhawet
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weluwanarak
authors.affiliation: Livestock and Wildlife Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University (Kanchanaburi Campus), Saiyok District, Kanchanaburi 71150, Thailand.
authors.forename: Witsanu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wongsawang
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan. Electronic address: gen@obihiro.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Xuenan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D060085:Coinfection / Q000469:parasitology; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D017053:Infection Control; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D000069466:Red Meat; D012307:Risk Factors; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Babesiosis; Beef cattle; Benign theileriosis; Risk factor; Thailand