Mutation on Theileria species in cattle in Fallujah city, west region of Iraq

Theileriosis infection is a tick-borne disease that leads to global animal morbidity, mortality, and economic losses.

This study aimed to examine Theileriosis infection by traditional and molecular methods.

A total of 100 blood samples of local breed cows were examined by Giemsa smearing under a microscope, amplified-PCR in region 18SrRNA PCR at 600bp, and DNA sequencing analysis of the genetic relationships.

The clinical signs showed that an elevated fever (40.3°C-41.5°C), an asymmetrical extension of superficially prescapular lymph nodes, lacrimation, icteric mucus membranes eyes, ecchymotic hemorrhages on the sclera, dullness, lethargy, salivation, and ticks presence. Giemsa-stained blood smear and conventional PCR were revealed 24% and 73% for infection respectively. The phylogenetic tree was constructed with DNA sequencing analysis of accession number: OQ779946.1, OQ779947.1, OQ779949.1, OQ779952.1, OQ779953.1 and OQ779953.1, belonging to Theileria annulata; acc. nos.: OQ779950.1, OQ779951.1 belong to Theileria parva; acc. nos.: OQ779948.1, OQ779960.1 belongs to Theileria species; acc. no.: OQ779955.1, OQ779957.1, OQ779958.1 belong to T. sergenti; and OQ779956.1, OQ779959.1 belong to Theileria orientalis. Nucleotide substitutions of transversion and transitions occurred in 11 types containing gaps and missing are A>T; A>C; A>G; C>A; C>G; C>T; G>A; G>C; G>T; T>A; T>C for 254 positions in the final dataset.

This study showed theileriosis infection is highly endemic and represents the first investigation into the use of molecular phylogeny to classify Theileria in Fallujah city, West Region of Iraq.