Veterinary Science & Technology

Prevalence, associated risk factors, morphological and molecular characterization of piroplasms in the blood of infected donkeys from Gombe and Yobe States, Nigeria

Abstract

Turaki Usman Aliyu*, Lawan Adamu, Ismaila Alhaji Mairiga, Falmata Kyari, Muhammad Modu Bukar, Ogo Isaac Ndudim, Bitrus Yakubu and Shitu Ismail

Four hundred and twenty-six (426) donkeys were sampled using the convenience sampling technique in markets, loading areas, and watering points to determine the prevalence, associated risk factors, morphological and molecular characterization of piroplasms present in the blood of infected donkeys from Gombe and Yobe States, Nigeria. Fifty-three ticks and 426 blood samples were collected from donkeys for the identification of piroplasms using microscopy and molecular techniques. The prevalence of piroplasms observed in the blood samples of donkeys via microscopic examination was 12 (2.81 %; CI = 1.62%, 4.86%) for B. caballi and none for T. equi while multiplex PCR (MPCR) showed a prevalence of114 (26.76%; CI = 22.78%, 31.16%). Out of which 33 (7.75 %; CI = 5.75, 10.68) represent T. equi and 78 (18.31%; CI = 14.93%, 22.26%) represent B. Caballi and 3 (0.07%; CI = 0.24, 2.04) represents a mixed infection of B. caballi and T. equi. The prevalence of piroplasms in the internal organ of ticks was 21 (77.8%; CI =59.25%, 89.39%) in the primary screening of ticks by PCR out of the 27 DNA extracted from the 53 ticks sampled. Out of 53 ticks sampled Riphicephalus had a prevalence of 52 (98.11%; CI = 90.05%, 99.67%) and Amblyomma varigatum had a prevalence of 1 (1.89%; CI = 0.33%, 9.95%) and are the species of ticks found on the donkeys in the studied areas. Phylogenetic analysis was performed after the 18SrRNA gene from 20 positive samples (10 each from blood and ticks) were sequenced. The sequencing analysis suggested a 99-100% similarity of T. equi with the other T. equi in the gene bank and after blasting alignment and analysis of the genes, accession numbers from the gene bank were assigned. The accession numbers were MH355571, MH355572, MH355573, MH355574 and MH355575. It was also found that the group D isolates of T. equi were closely related to the T. equi reported in Nigerian waterbucks. This is the first report of equine piroplasms sequencing from the studied areas to the best of our knowledge.