Rapid Detection of Equine Piroplasms Using Multiplex PCR and First Genetic Characterization of Theileria haneyi in Egypt

Abstract

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is an infectious disease caused by the hemoprotozoan parasites <i>Theileria equi</i>, <i>Babesia caballi</i>, and the recently identified species <i>T. haneyi</i>. Hereby, we used a multiplex PCR (mPCR) targeting the 18S rRNA gene of <i>T. equi</i> and <i>B. caballi</i> for the simultaneous detection of EP in Egyptian equids and examined the presence of <i>T. haneyi</i> infections in Egypt. Blood samples from 155 equids (79 horses and 76 donkeys) collected from different governorates of Egypt were examined by mPCR and PCR targeting <i>T. hayeni</i>. The mPCR method revealed a prevalence of <i>T. equi</i> of 20.3% in horses and of 13.1% in donkeys and a prevalence of <i>B</i>. <i>caballi</i> of 1.2% in horses. <i>B</i>. <i>caballi</i> was not detected in donkeys in the current study. The mPCR method also detected coinfections with both species (2.5% and 1.3% in horses and donkeys, respectively). Additionally, we report the presence of <i>T. haneyi</i> in Egypt for the first time in 53.1% of the horse and 38.1% of the donkey tested samples. Coinfection with <i>T. haneyi</i> and <i>T. equi</i> was found in 13.5% of the samples, while infection with the three EP species was found in 1.9% of the samples.