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Babesia caballi, Theileria equi and several species of rickettsias are agents of vector-borne diseases that affect equines. The objective of this study was to detect infections by B. caballi and T. equi in horses and to identify rickettsias in horses and ticks in the western region of Cuba. Two nPCR assays were developed and standardized for the detection of B. caballi and T. equi. Blood samples from horses and ticks were collected. Identification by blood smear and molecular detection and identification of B. caballi, T. equi and Rickettsia spp. were carried out. Intraerythrocytic formations compatible with B. caballi and T. equi were observed. The nPCR showed that 25 % of the samples were positive for B. caballi, 73 % for T. equi and 20 % showed coinfection. The results were confirmed with the partial sequencing of the genes bc48 (B. caballi) and ema-1 (T. equi). The sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi demonstrated the presence of at least two genotypes of T. equi isolates in Cuba. The real time qPCR assay and sequencing revealed the presence of Rickettsia amblyommatis in A. mixtum and Rickettsia felis in D. nitens. Conclusions: These results constitute the first piece of molecular evidence of B. caballi and T. equi in horses and the first report of R. felis in D. nitens in Cuba, which broadens the knowledge about the distribution of pathogens and the spectrum of potential vectors contributing to the strengthening of management and control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bovine anaplasmosis is a disease of cattle caused by the rickettsia Anaplasma marginale. The major surface proteins encoded by genes with conserved sequences are potential candidates for vaccines. Among these proteins, MSP1a is expressed by a single copy gene (msp1a). The molecular weight of MSP1a varies among A. marginale isolates from different geographical regions due to the presence, in a variable number, of a sequence of 28-29 amino acids in tandem repeats. In the present study, the sequences of the repeats and of the microsatellite of the protein MSPla of two isolates of A. marginale from bovines in a farm of the Cuban western region were examined. Both isolates belongs to the genotype G, and the isolate 21G presented the repeats T-B-B-C and the 25G of the types T-C. The analysis of these repeated sequences are very important because they include markers for transmissibility by ticks and are of great value for the future development of a vaccine candidate against this hemoparasite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the sequencing of the entire genome of Anaplasma marginale isolates, genes encoding membrane proteins of this hemoparasite have been identified, as well as novel immunogens as potential vaccine candidates. However, little is known about the genetic variability of genes encoding membrane proteins of Anaplasma marginale isolates. The aim of this study was to determine the degree of conservation of the genes encoding the VirB9, VirB10 proteins, conjugal transfer protein (CTP) and the elongation factor ( Ef- Tu) in the nucleotide sequence of a Cuban Anaplasma marginale isolate and from the deduced amino acid sequence and compare them with those described for Florida and Saint Maries Anaplasma marginale isolates and Anaplasma (centrale) marginale from Israel . The gene and deduced amino acid sequences showed high degree of identity with the sequences described for other isolates of Anaplasma marginale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]