Study on the protozoal infection of Theileria species in Traditional animal husbandry in two ecological regions of Golestan province, Iran

Nowadays molecular assays, due to their high sensitivity and specificity rates, are more employed than the traditional methods, e.g. Giemsa staining and serology, for detection of piroplasmosis in domestic animals. Therefore, in order to diagnose Theileria annulata and Theileria orientalis in traditional cattle breeding in two ecological regions of Golestan province, north of Iran, we examined the blood samples of 160 cattle during 2009 to 2010. DNA was extracted from all blood samples. Tbs-S/Tbs-A primer set was used to amplify the both Genus of Theileria and Babesia species in PCR step. For detection and differentiation of Theileria annulata from Theileria orientalis, we examined all positive cases by Semi-Nested PCR method, using specific primers. The results revealed 10% of native cattle in dry areas as well as 5% of native cattle in wet areas harbored Theileria annulata, whereas the infection rate of Theileria orientalis in dry areas was 8.75% and in wet areas was 2.5%. This is the first report from Iran indicating the presence of Theileria orientalis and the mixed infection of both Theileria in native cattle of the country, confirmed by molecular procedures.