الفهرس 
Serological and molecular studies on Theileria equi in Egyptian equine
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Abstract
Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a disease of equids which caused by the blood-borne protozoan parasite Theileria (Babesia) equi. The incidence of Theileria equi infection was studied in 301 equine samples (133 donkeys and 168 horses) from Giza and Cairo governorate using microscopic examination (ME), competitive ELISA (cELISA), indirect ELISA (iELISA) and nested (nPCR). The used antigen in iELISA was prepared from blood of naturally infected splenectomized donkey at the peak of parasitemia. In ME, the parasite was detected in 79 (26.2%) equine blood samples; 33 donkeys and 46 horses with an incidence rate (24.8% and 27.4%), respectively. The T. equi antibodies were detected with cELISA in 60 (19.9%) equine serum samples, where 34 donkeys and 26 horses with an incidence rate (25.6% and 15.5%), respectively. The incidence rate in equine samples using iELISA was (33.5%) from which 71 donkeys and 30 horses were infected (53.4% and 17.9%), respectively. The nPCR based on the T. equi merozoite antigen gene (EMA-1) allowed the visualization of species-specific amplified product in 171 (56.8%) equine blood samples, 67 donkeys and 104 horses with an incidence rate (50.4% and 61.9%), respectively. Approximately 229 bp of the ema-1 gene from 3 Egyptian samples were sequenced and BLASTN analysis confirmed all sequences to be merozoite surface protein genes, with an identity of 100% to previously published Babesia equi merozoite antigen- 1 (EMA-1) gene reference sequence (our GenBank Accession number KX262963). Statistical analysis using Chi square indicated significant differences (P< 0.05) between ME and nPCR; ME and iELISA; nPCR and cELISA and nPCR and iELISA in total equine on the detection of parasite carriers. In conclusion, the most sensitive technique in diagnosis of T. equi infection is nPCR, followed by cELIZA, iELISA and ME. The combination of ELISA and PCR was recommended for detection of acute and chronic stage