Merozoites of Theileria orientalis buffeli reduce the parasitaemia of T. orientalis ikeda following tick challenge

Theileria orientalis is a tick-borne protozoal parasite causing anaemia and death in susceptible cattle. This investigation aimed to confirm whether immunisation with the “benign” buffeli genotype of T. orientalis could reduce the parasitaemia of the virulent ikeda genotype. Calves were inoculated intravenously or subcutaneously with bovine blood containing merozoites of T. orientalis buffeli and when recipients became positive by PCR, they and control calves were challenged with unfed nymphs of Haemaphysalis longicornis ticks infected as larvae with T. orientalis ikeda. All calves became positive for the challenge within 12 days after tick application. In the immunised calves, the first wave of parasitaemia with T. orientalis ikeda from 4 to 6 weeks was reduced significantly by >80 % before the parasite burden declined into the carrier state by 9 weeks. The parasitaemias in two calves which exhibited low infections with T. orientalis ikeda shortly after arrival, were also significantly reduced after tick challenge. The results confirm the previous studies on immunity to T. sergenti in Japan, and field experience with theileriosis in endemic zones where the carrier state appears to prevent clinical disease despite repeated, seasonal tick infestations with virulent genotypes of the parasite. This method offers a means to reduce the severity of the first wave of theilerial parasitaemia after tick challenge and possibly recover associated production losses.