Trypanosomosis and babesiosis are economically important vector-borne diseases
for animal health and productivity in developing countries. In Egypt, molecular
epidemiological surveys on such diseases are scarce. In the present study, we
examined 475 healthy and 25 clinically diagnosed cattle from three provinces in
Lower Egypt, for Trypanosoma (T.) and Babesia (B.) infections using an ITS1 PCR
assay that confirmed Trypanosoma species presence and an 18S rRNA assay that
detected B. bigemina. Results confirmed Trypanosoma spp. and B. bigemina
presence in 30.4% and 11% individuals, respectively, with eight animals (1.6%)
being co-infected with both haemoparasites. Subsequent type-specific PCRs
revealed that all Trypanosoma PCR positive samples corresponded to T. evansi and
that none of the animals harboured T. brucei gambiense or T. brucei rhodesiense.
Nucleotide sequencing of the variable surface glycoprotein revealed the T. evansi
cattle strain to be most closely related (99% nucleotide sequence identity) to strains
previously detected in dromedary camels in Egypt, while the 18S rRNA gene
phylogeny confirmed the presence of a unique B. bigemina haplotype closely
related to strains from Turkey and Brazil. Statistically significant differences in
PCR prevalence were noted with respect to gender, clinical status and locality.
These results confirm the presence of high numbers of carrier animals and signal the
need for expanded surveillance and control efforts. |
