Molecular Detection of NaturalClinicalInfections of Cattle with Theileria lestoquardi and Sheep withTheileria annulata in Atbara- Sudan

Abstract

Generally, in Northern Sudan cattle and sheep are grazed together in the same pastures, in such a situation the transmission of the Theileria annulata to sheep and Theileria lestoqurdito cattle can occur. The aims of this study were to evaluate the possibility of transmission of theTheileriaannulatato sheep and Theileria lestoqurdito cattle that showed clinicalsigns of theileriosis in the field. The DNA extracted from sheep was investigated by PCR using sets of primers specific for T.annulata.Whereas the DNA extracted from cattle blood was investigated by PCR using sets of primers specific for T.lestoquardi. Three out of 40 sheep (7.5%) were positive for T. annulata. These positive samples (3 samples) were rechecked for the infection with T.lestoquardi by using sets of primers specific for T.lestoquardi.The result of these samples was negative for T.lestoquardi. Thus, the presence of T. annulata in sheep is the main cause of the present pathogenic symptoms. All blood samples extracted from cattle were negative for Theileria lestoqurdi.These results indicatethat the transmission of the Theileria annulata to sheep with the appearance of clinical signs could happen under field conditions,while the transmission of Theileria lestoqurdito cattle was not observed under the same conditions. Therefore, breeding of sheep and cattle should be doneseparately to avoid the transfer of Theileriafrom cattle to sheep vice versa.