A survey of piroplasms in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the southeastern United States to determine their possible role as Theileria orientalis hosts.

ABSTRACT: In 2017, clinical disease and mortality in cattle associated with Theileria orientalis Ikeda was reported in Virginia, U.S. The exotic tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis, is a competent vector for this species. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are commonly infested with H. longicornis in the eastern U.S. and are also infected with several genotypes of piroplasms such as a Theileria sp. (often called Theileria cervi-like), Babesia odocoilei, and Babesia sp. H10. However, it is currently unknown if deer are susceptible to T. orientalis and can act as potential hosts. In this study, we tested 552 white-tailed deer samples from the southeastern U.S. to determine the presence of T. orientalis. We used a PCR-RFLP to tes

SUBMITTER: Thompson AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9142371 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature