First Molecular Evidence of <i>Babesia caballi</i> and <i>Theileria equi</i> in Imported Donkeys from Kyrgyzstan.

ABSTRACT: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an important tick-borne disease of equids, caused by Theileria equi, Theileria haneyi, and Babesia caballi. Nonetheless, there has been a scarcity of systematic reports on EP parasites in donkeys in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. In this study, piroplasms were screened in 1900 blood samples from imported donkeys from the Osh Oblast (southwestern Kyrgyzstan) by targeting partial 18S ribosomal RNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Through molecular and phylogenetic analyses, all positive samples were sequenced to identify the species and genotypes. The results indicated the presence of both B. caballi and T. equi, with prevalence rates of 8.4% (160/1900) and 12.2% (232/1900), respectively. By amplifying part of the Erythrocyte Merozoite Antigen 1 (EMA-1) and

SUBMITTER: Wu X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11434632 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature