Journal of Medical Entomology · 2019 · 25 citations · 34 references
Veterinary MedicineEntomologyZoologyHelminthologyParasitologyProtozoologyMolecular Diagnosis Of ParasitesParasitic Disease DiagnosisParasitic Infestation DetectionParasitic ZoonosesTick-borne Parasitic DiseasesZoonotic Parasitic Diseases16S Rrna Gene PhylogenyAvian EctoparasitesDetection Of Protozoan ParasitesMolecular Detection Of ParasitesMolecular Species IdentificationPcr-based DetectionPhylogenetic Character AnalysisTick-borne Protozoal Infections
Theileria spp. are tick-transmitted, intracellular apicomplexan protozoan parasites that infect a wide range of animals and, as such, can cause significant economic losses. The aim of the present study was to detect and analyze apicomplexan parasites from two different ectoparasites that were collected from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The PCR-based detection of 18S rRNA indicated that Ornithodoros lahorensis specimens from Kashgar, Xinjiang, and Aksu were positive for Theileria spp., as were Melophagus ovinus specimens from Aksu. Meanwhile, phylogenetic analysis, based on the 18S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that the four amplified Theileria sequences could be attributed to T. ovis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report the detection of T. ovis DNA in M. ovinus and the first molecular identification study to confirm the detection of T. ovis in O. lahorensis in China. Accordingly, the present study extends the known distribution of T. ovis.
34