Dynamics and within-host interaction of Theileria lestoquardi and T. ovis among naive sheep in Oman.

ABSTRACT: Mixed species infections of Theileria spp. are common in nature. Experimental and epidemiological data suggest that mixed species infections elicit cross-immunity that can modulate pathogenicity and disease burden at the population level. The present study examined within-host interactions, over a period of 13 months during natural infections with two Theileria spp., pathogenic (T. lestoquardi) and non-pathogenic (T. ovis), amongst a cohort of naive sheep in Oman. In the first two months after exposure to infection, a high rate of mortality was seen among sheep infected with T. lestoquardi alone. However, subsequently mixed-infections of T. lestoquardi and T. ovis prevailed, and no further death occurred. The overall densities of both parasite species were significantly higher as single in

SUBMITTER: Awad H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7666211 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature