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Small ruminant babesiosis remains a neglected disease despite causing significant economic losses to sheep and goat herds in many regions around the world. The pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of ovine babesiosis are well-known, but there is a lack of information regarding caprine babesiosis. Since the discovery of the first Babesia spp. in 1888, several species/subspecies/genotypes, including Babesia aktasi, have been described. Our recent molecular survey revealed that the parasite is highly prevalent (22.5%) in indigenous goats from Mediterranean region of Türkiye. The aim of this experimental study was to determine the pathogenicity and virulence of B. aktasi in immunosuppressed (n = 5) and immunocompetent (n = 7) purebred Saanen goats. The goats were experimentally infected with fresh B. aktasi infected blood, and examined for clinical, parasitological, hematological, and serum biochemical findings throughout the infection. Following the parasite inoculation, intra-erythrocytic parasites were detected from the 1st day post-infection, followed by an increase in rectal temperature and parasitemia. The parasitemia was detected ranging from 4.3% to 33.5% in the immunosuppressed group, while it was 2.1% to 7.6% in the immunocompetent. Severe clinical symptoms characterized by anemia, jaundice, and hemoglobinuria developed in both groups. A statistically significant inverse correlation was observed between the increase in parasitemia and RBC, WBC, HCT, and Hb values in the goats compared to pre-infection levels. Values of AST, ALT, GGT, Total bilirubin, and Albumin showed a significant increase, with all the immunosuppressed goats dying on the 4th and 7th days post-infection, while four out of seven immunocompetent goats died on between 6-8th days. Severe edema in the lungs, frothy fluid in the trachea, jaundice in the subcutaneous and mesenteric fat, and dark red urine were detected in necropsy. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that B. aktasi was highly pathogenic to purebred Saanen goats. Current work assures valuable insights into the pathogenesis and virulence of B. aktasi and serves as a foundation for future studies to develop effective control strategies against caprine babesiosis.

Caprine theileriosis, caused by Theileria ovis is a serious production issue, especially in the areas that depend on goats and sheep for milk, meat, and other economic benefits. Pakistan has a large goat population, but few reports have been documented from this country regarding PCR-based detection of T. ovis. The molecular prevalence of T. ovis, on a seasonal basis, in various goat breeds enrolled from Muzaffar Garh district of Punjab in Pakistan was determined from October 2018 to September 2019. In this study, 1084 goat blood samples were screened for the detection of T. ovis DNA through PCR-based amplification of 18S rRNA gene. Out of 1084 goats, 12 (1.11%) were infected with T. ovis. The parasite prevalence varied with the sampling seasons (Chi square test, P = 0.008), and the parasite prevalence was highest in goat blood samples collected in summer (2.39%) followed by winter (1.88%). DNA sequencing and BLAST analysis confirmed the presence of T. ovis, and the amplified isolates from the 18S rRNA gene of T. ovis were found to be highly conserved during phylogenetic analysis. Young goats (Fischer exact test, P = 0.022) were found more infected with T. ovis during the winter season. Infected goats had elevated white blood cell counts (Two-sample t-test, P = 0.04), blood urea nitrogen to Creatinine ratio (Two-sample t-test, P = 0.02) and decreased serum Creatinine (Two-sample t-test, P = 0.001) as compared to T. ovis negative goats. We report a relatively low molecular prevalence of T. ovis in goats from the Muzaffar Garh district. However, it is recommended that control measures to eradicate T. ovis infection in goats in this area should be taken.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an acute tick-borne zoonotic disease. The disease has been reported in many countries of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and in Eurasia. During the past decade, new foci of CCHF have emerged in the Balkan Peninsula, southwest Russia, the Middle East, western China, India, Africa, and Turkey. CCHF virus produces severe hemorrhagic manifestations in humans with fatality rates up to 30%. Vaccine development efforts have been significantly hampered by a lack of animal models and therefore, no protective vaccine has been achieved. Lately, IFN α/β receptor deficient (IFNAR-/-) mice have been established as a novel small animal model of CCHF virus infection. In the present study, we found that IFNAR-/- mice highly susceptible to CCHF virus Turkey-Kelkit06 strain. Immunization with the cell culture based vaccine elicited a significant level of protection against high dose challenge (1,000 PPFU) with a homologous CCHF virus in IFNAR-/- mice.