Successful treatment of severe form of bovine tropical theileriosis in dairy cattle and genotyping of Theileria annulata isolates of Tamil Nadu, India

Cattle co-infection patterns by hemopathogens and their phylogenetic analysis during the tick season in Constantine and Mila, Northeast Algeria

Tropical theileriosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis are the most dominant tick-borne infections in North Africa where they cause significant economic losses in ruminants' industry. The aim of the present work was to study infections and co-infection patterns in 66 cattle with clinical signs of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis in two localities, Beni Hamidene and Grarem Gouga, districts of Constantine and Mila (Northeast of Algeria), respectively. This study was conducted between early May and late September during four years 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021. PCR showed that the most frequent pathogen in cattle with clinical signs of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis was Theileria annulata (66/66; 100%) followed by Babesia bovis (21/66; 31.8%), Anaplasma marginale (15/66; 22.7%), and Babesia bigemina (3/66; 4.5%) (p < 0.001). Giemsa-stained blood smears examinations revealed that 66.7% (44/66); 10.6% (7/66); and 9.1% (6/66) of cattle were infected by T. annulata, Babesia spp., and A. marginale, respectively (p < 0.001). PCR revealed seven co-infection patterns: T. annulata/A. marginale (15/66; 22.7%), T. annulata/B. bovis (21/66; 31.8%), T. annulata/B. bigemina (3/66; 4.5%), T. annulata/A. marginale/B. bovis (7/66; 10.6%), T. annulata/B. bovis/B. bigemina (2/66; 3%), T. annulata/A. marginale/B. bigemina (1/66; 1.5%), and T. annulata/A. marginale/B. bigemina/B. bovis (1/66; 1.5%). Phylogenetic analyses showed that T. annulata Tams1 and B. bigemina gp45 sequences were identical to isolates from Mauritania and South Africa, respectively. The three A. marginale amplicons obtained herein had 99.63 to 99.88% similarity between them. This study provides data that can be used to improve control programs targeting these cattle hemopathogens.

Molecular investigation of bovine tropical theileriosis outbreak in an organized dairy cattle farm in Madhya Pradesh, India

The present study aimed to investigate an outbreak of Theileria annulata (T. annulata) infection in an organized dairy cattle farm in Madhya Pradesh, India, using clinical and molecular techniques. Following the deaths of two crossbred cattle in March 2021, 43 blood samples were collected from infected and apparently healthy animals and examined by blood smear and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. The blood smear examination showed that 23.25% of samples were positive for Theileria organisms, while conventional PCR targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and T. annulata merozoite surface antigen-1 (TAMS-1) genes revealed that 32.55% of samples were positive for T. annulata. PCR targeting cytochrome b (Cytb) gene showed 46.51% of samples were positive for T. annulata. Haematological analysis confirmed clinical signs of infection in affected animals, which were treated with buparvaquone @ 2.5 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly along with supportive medicine. Two 18S rRNA gene amplicons were sequenced and analysed in a phylogenetic tree and haplotype network with 54 Indian and 38 foreign sequences. The phylogenetic tree revealed two groups with a high posterior probability and bootstrap value, while the haplotype network revealed 35 haplotypes, with haplotype 1 (H1) being the most abundant and several single haplotypes clustering around it, indicating fast and widespread expansion. Genetic diversity indices and neutrality tests confirmed that the population was expanding. These studies highlight the significance of prompt and precise diagnosis and management of T. annulata outbreaks and provide insights into its evolutionary history and population dynamics of T. annulata in India, which could aid improving disease preventive and control strategies.

In vitro efficacy of plumbagin and thymol against Theileria annulata

Phytochemical compounds, plumbagin and thymol were evaluated for their efficacy against Theileria annulata using MTT cell viability assay. Plumbagin and thymol were found to be effective in preventing the proliferation of Theileria annulata infected bovine lymphocytes. The IC50 values of plumbagin and thymol were 0.019 µM and 0.009 µM, respectively. Plumbagin and thymol were found to be non-cytotoxic to the bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells. However, both the compounds were found to have inhibitory effect on vero cell proliferation. Plumbagin had primarily anti-theilerial activity but thymol had primarily anti-mitotic activity. The in vitro efficacy and cell toxicity studies indicate the potential application of plumbagin, purified from Plumbago indica as a lead therapeutic molecule against T. annulata infection in cattle.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12639-022-01550-x.

Genetic Resistance of Bovines to Theileriosis

Diseases caused by ticks have a high impact on the health, welfare, and productivity of livestock species. They are also an important cause of economic losses in farms worldwide. An example of such diseases is theileriosis, which can be controlled by drugs or vaccines, although these are not fully efficient. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative and more sustainable and efficient complementary strategies. These may involve the identification and selection of animals more resistant to the disease. Several previous studies have identified significant differences in resistance between different breeds, with resistant breeds typically identified as those native to the region where they are being studied, and susceptible as those from exotic breeds. These studies have indicated that resistance traits are intrinsically related to the modulation of the immune response to infection. This review aims to systematize the general knowledge about theileriosis, emphasize resistance to this disease as a sustainable control strategy, and identify which traits of resistance to the disease are already known in cattle.

Metabolomic profiling of bovine leucocytes transformed by Theileria annulata under BW720c treatment

Background

When Theileria annulata infects host cells, it undertakes unlimited proliferation as tumor cells. Although the transformed cells will recover their limited reproductive characteristics and enter the apoptosis process after treatment with buparvaquone (BW720c), the metabolites and metabolic pathways involved are not clear.

Methods

The transformed cells of T. annulata were used as experimental materials, and the buparvaquone treatment group and DMSO control group were used. Qualitative and quantitative analysis was undertaken of 36 cell samples based on the LC–QTOF platform in positive and negative ion modes. The metabolites of the cell samples after 72 h of drug treatment were analyzed, as were the different metabolites and metabolic pathways involved in the BW720c treatment. Finally, the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways in the transformed cells were found.

Results

A total of 1425 metabolites were detected in the negative ion mode and 1298 metabolites were detected in the positive ion mode. After drug treatment for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h, there were 56, 162, and 243 differential metabolites in negative ion mode, and 35, 121, and 177 differential metabolites in positive ion mode, respectively. These differential metabolites are mainly concentrated on various essential amino acids.

Conclusion

BW720c treatment induces metabolic disturbances in T. annulata-infected cells by regulating the metabolism of leucine, arginine, and l-carnitine, and induces host cell apoptosis.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05450-0.