Microscopic and Molecular Detection of Theileria (Babesia) Equi Infection in Equids of Kurdistan Province, Iran.
BACKGROUND
Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is the cause of persistent tick-borne infection with no symptoms, but the most important problem of EP is due to the persistent carrier state. Carrier animals to Babesia (Theileria) equi (Laveran 1901) and B. caballi (Nuttall, 1910) infestation could be identified by extremely sensitive PCR-based method. The purpose of this study was to identify the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis based on molecular and microscopic assays in equids from Kurdistan Province, Iran.


METHODS
Thirty one horse and mule blood samples were used with history of living in Kurdistan Province of Iran. The blood specimens were utilized for T. equi and B. caballi DNA identification by PCR and Giemsa stained smears for microscopic observation.


RESULTS
The results clearly showed the presence of B. (Theileria) equi DNA in 30 of 31 blood samples (96.77%), but the microscopic examination revealed the 3 of 31 positive Babesia like organisms in the red blood cells (9.67%).


CONCLUSIONS
The obtained results demonstrated the presence of hidden B. (Theileria) equi infection in horses with previous habitance in Kurdistan Province of Iran. The carrier animals became a main source of infection and can transmit the disease. Therefore, hidden infection might be considered as a health threatening and limiting factor in animals used in therapeutic antisera research and production centers.
Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Gholamreza
G
Habibi
Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Kasra
K
Esmaeilnia
Dept. of Pathology of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Mohammad Hasan
MH
Hablolvarid
Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Asghar
A
Afshari
Dept. of Immunization of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Mohsen
M
Zamen
Dept. of Parasite Vaccine Research and Production of Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj, Iran.
Soghra
S
Bozorgi
Babesia equi; Iran; PCR; Theileria