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Migratory Gaddi sheep and goats as potential carriers of Theileria infection: a molecular survey

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Abstract

Theileriosis caused by parasites of the genus Theileria, is a vector-borne haemoprotozoan parasitic disease of critical concern in small ruminants. This study aimed to explore the infection status of migratory Gaddi sheep and goats with parasites from the Theileria genus in concurrence with ectoparasite infestations using molecular methods. Seventy three apparently healthy animals were randomly sampled from different flocks of migratory Gaddi sheep and goats and were systematically screened for ectoparasitic infestations. Molecular investigation for theileriosis was conducted using the genus wide polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Out of 56 (76.71%) animals positive for the genus Theileria, 2 randomly selected amplicons were sequenced and subjected to BLAST analysis and were showing 99.71% identity with Theileria luwenshuni, a pathogenic Theileria species of small ruminants. To confirm the presence of T. luwenshuni, species-specific PCR was attempted to identify that 38 (52.05%) animals were infected by T. luwenshuni. On analysing the molecular prevalence data of Theileria to the ectoparasitism, it was evident that the infection existed in the animals irrespective of the type of ectoparasitic infestation and even T. luwenshuni was found in non-infested animals also. This is the first report of subclinical infections of T. luwenshuni in sheep and goats of Northern India and its potential carrier status. The asymptomatic carrier status of these nomadic animals is a matter possessing serious implications on the disease transmission rates and the production economics of small ruminant production in this region.

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All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this article (and its supplementary information file)

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Funding

The work received financial support from ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, under the head of Institutional Project (IXX 14761).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Regional Station, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Palampur, Kangra Dist., Himachal Pradesh, 176061, India

    Gopinath Devi, Gorakh Mal, Gauri Jairath, Birbal Singh & Jyoti Babu Dhar

  2. Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, 680651, India

    Y. Ajith

  3. Division of Medicine, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Uttar Pradesh, 243122, India

    Umesh Dimri

  4. Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, 680651, India

    P. Preena

  5. Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA

    Jobin Jose Kattoor

  6. National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560064, India

    Siju Susan Jacob

Authors
  1. Gopinath Devi
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  2. Y. Ajith
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  3. Gorakh Mal
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  4. Umesh Dimri
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  5. P. Preena
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  6. Gauri Jairath
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  7. Jobin Jose Kattoor
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  8. Siju Susan Jacob
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  9. Birbal Singh
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  10. Jyoti Babu Dhar
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Contributions

Conceptualization: Devi Gopinath, Y. Ajith

Methodology: Devi Gopinath, Gorakh Mal

Formal analysis and investigation: Umesh Dimri, P. Preena, Gauri Jairath, Jyoti Babu Dhar, Jobin Jose Kattoor

Writing—original draft preparation: Devi Gopinath

Writing-review and editing: Birbal Singh, Siju Susan Jacob, Jobin Jose Kattoor

Funding acquisition: Devi Gopinath

Resources: Devi Gopinath, Gorakh Mal

Supervision: Umesh Dimri, Gorakh Mal

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gopinath Devi.

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The work was approved under Institutional Project/IXX 14761 by ICAR-IVRI and was conducted in compliance with the universal ethical standards.

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Statement of animal rights

The work was approved under Institutional Project/IXX 14761 by ICAR-IVRI and was conducted in compliance with the universal ethical standards.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Devi, G., Ajith, Y., Mal, G. et al. Migratory Gaddi sheep and goats as potential carriers of Theileria infection: a molecular survey. Trop Anim Health Prod 53, 302 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-021-02742-y

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