Hematological findings and antibody responses in Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) infected with Babesia microti

Animal models of the immunology and pathogenesis of human babesiosis

Animal models of human babesiosis have provided a basic understanding of the immunological mechanisms that clear, or occasionally exacerbate, Babesia infection and those pathological processes that cause disease complications. Human Babesia infection can cause asymptomatic infection, mild to moderate disease, or severe disease resulting in organ dysfunction and death. More than 100 Babesia species infect a wide array of wild and domestic animals, and many of the immunologic and pathologic responses to Babesia infection are similar in animals and humans. In this review, we summarize the knowledge gained from animal studies, their limitations, and how animal models or alternative approaches can be further leveraged to improve our understanding of human babesiosis.

Molecular survey in relation to risk factors and haemato-biochemical alteration in Theileria equi infection of equines in Punjab Province, India

Equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi, an apicomplexan intracellular haemoprotozoan parasite effects equids throughout the world. Current investigation is the first detailed epidemiological survey report based on conventional (blood smear) and primary polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of T. equi on 464 equids (426 horses and 38 donkeys/mules) in Punjab province of India. PCR targeting 18S rRNA gene of T. equi produced high fidelity 709bp amplification products with 100% concordance with blood films. The prevalence of infection was proportional (P≤0.01) to temperature and aridness of the regions, which turned out to be the most important physical factor pertaining to T. equi infection. Spatial distribution analysis revealed an increasing trend of disease prevalence from north-eastern to south-western region of Punjab by both the techniques. Haemato-biochemical analysis revealed significant decrease in total erythrocyte count and haemoglobin; and increase in mean corpuscular haemoglobin, serum globulin, glucose, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase and bilirubin levels (P≤0.05). This study divulges the endemicity of equine theileriosis in Punjab with the prominence of various odds of infection, emphasising the pathophysiological manifestation associated with latent infection of T. equi detectable by PCR.