Canine and ovine tick-borne pathogens in camels, Nigeria.

Authors :: Lorusso V
Wijnveld M
Latrofa MS
Fajinmi A
Majekodunmi AO
Dogo AG
Igweh AC
Otranto D
Jongejan F
Welburn SC
Picozzi K
Source :: Veterinary parasitology [Vet Parasitol] 2016 Sep 15; Vol. 228, pp. 90-92. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Aug 20.
Publication Year :: 2016
Abstract: In April 2008, whole blood samples were collected from 36 dromedary camels in Sokoto, North-western Nigeria. Following PCR and reverse line blotting, twenty-two samples (61%) resulted positive for Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. and three (8%) for Theileria/Babesia spp., with three (8%) cases of co-infections being found. Both sequence and BLAST analyses identified Ehrlichia/Anaplasma spp. and Theileria/Babesia spp. positive cases as Anaplasma platys and Theileria ovis, respectively. This is the first report of the detection of A. platys and T. ovis in camels from sub-Saharan Africa. The epidemiological relevance of this finding is enhanced by the close living of these animals with both dogs and small ruminants. The high prevalence detected for A. platys suggests a possible role of camels as carriers of this infection.<br /> (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)