Detection of Theileria luwenshuni in sheep from Great Britain. Issue 1 (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Phipps, L.; Hernández-Triana, Luis; Goharriz, Hooman; Welchman, David; Johnson, Nicholas
• Is Part Of: Parasites & vectors. Volume 9:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 4
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Theileria luwenshuni -- Sheep -- Great Britain -- Haemaphysalis punctata; Parasitism -- Periodicals; Parasites -- Periodicals; Vector-pathogen relationships -- Periodicals; Animals as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.96
• DOI: 10.1186/s13071-016-1486-5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-3305

Abstract

Abstract Background Theileria spp. are tick-borne protozoan parasites of the Phylum Apicomplexa, Order Piroplasmida that infect a wide range of wild and domestic animals. In Great Britain, Theileria spp. have been reported from livestock associated with transmission by the tickHaemaphysalis punctata . However, these reports have not been associated with disease. This study has investigated the cause of a disease outbreak accompanied by mortality in a flock of sheep grazing reclaimed marshland in north Kent. Findings A polymerase chain reaction-reverse line blot assay indicated the presence ofTheileria spp. in blood samples from five animals. Subsequent testing with a pan-piroplasm PCR of a larger panel of blood samples detected a piroplasm amplicon in 19 of 21 sheep submitted from the affected flock. Automated sequencing confirmed that these amplicons shared 99–100 % identity withT. luwenshuni . Conclusions The clinical and PCR data suggest infection withT. luwenshuni was associated with disease and mortality in this flock.