Comparative Study of Microscopy With PCR for the Diagnosis of Theileriosis in Cattle

Abstract

Haemoprotozoan inf<:ctions arc very common in bovine and cause devastating effects to the: li\cstock ~ector throughout the world. The major haemoproto1oun infection to which animals an: more susceptible b 1 hc:ilcriosb, Babesiosis and Anaplasmosi~ cu,cd by Tlreiltrria spp .. Babesw spp. and Anaplasma ~pp. n:~pectivcl). The direct impacts of hacmoprotozonn parasites are reflected in reduction of production. loss of weight and death of substantial proportion of the affected animals. The current stud} was performed in and around Meerut district, Uttar Pradesh. The study is done '" the months of April to June 2020. A total of34 fresh sample~ "ere collc:ctcd directly from the Jugular Vein of cattle. The blood samples are collected in a capped clean and dry vial containing the appropriate amount of anticoagulant. The anticoagulant used in thb project work is EDTA t1i 1- 2mg/ml of blood. I he fresh samples were stored at 4°c until it \\QS processed or used for further parasitological examination. Out of 34 samples examined In Giemsn stained microscopic examination. 17 arc tound positive for Theileria spp. inefection \\here a. in PCR based detection out of 3-t animals 21 were reponed positi\'e for the Theileria cmnnlutt1 infection in canle. The current stud)· re,·ealed the pre,cncc of 7heiluia piroplasm in micro,.:opk examination is 50% and PCR detection reported 61.76%. The result obtained in this study indicates chat PCR is more efficient in dete,ting theileriosis than the conventional staining technique I he polymera~c chain reaction (PCRJ based assays ~rmit idcntilication of parasite at le\•els far belo\\ the detection limit of the commonly used parasitological techniques. The high efficacy and scnsiti•ity of PCR makes it an anractive tool in diagnosis of the ti,k-borne infections. PCR can be used for ac,urotc diagnosis of theileriosis. and can also be used to detect the carrier animals. There is an urgent need to assess the actual statu~ of these infections \\hich is possible: onl)' by carrying out SUT\C)~ as conducted in the present stud) . Further investigations arc abo necessary to evaluate the economic impact of haemoprotozoun parasites and designing of proper control measures to prc\C~nt the infection in canle.