Amira Adel Taha Al-Hosary

Assessment of the First Commercial ELISA Kit for the Diagnosis of Theileria annulata

The present study assesses the efficacy of SVANOVIR Theileria annulata-Ab, the first commercial ELISA kit for the diagnosis of Theileria annulata infection in cattle based on a recombinant protein known as T. annulata surface protein (TaSp). As a reference test, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay depending on T. annulata merozoite surface antigen (Tams-1) was applied. A total of 468 blood samples as well as serum samples were randomly collected from cattle and tested in the PCR as well as in the ELISA developed in this study. Moreover, all samples were also analyzed by conventional Giemsa-stained blood smear. The results of this study revealed a good correlation between the results obtained by PCR and the ELISA, whereas all PCR positive samples scored correctly positive in the ELISA and 73 of the 125 PCR negative samples scored correctly negative. Taken together, a sensitivity of 91.25% and a specificity of 78.4% were recorded, when compared to the PCR data. In conclusion, the SVANOVIR Theileria annulata-Ab is a suitable diagnostic assay for use in the diagnosis and epidemiological surveys of Theileria annulata infection in chronic and carrier animals.

Epidemiological study on tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection) in the Egyptian Oases with special reference to the molecular characterization of Theileria spp

Theileria annulata infection is a tick-borne disease known as Egyptian fever since 1947. It is a destructive obstacle for the livestock production in the Egyptian Oases (EL-Wady EL-Geded Province). The present study was conducted on 1068 cattle, ranged from below one year to more than eight years old; belonged to different farms and villages in EL-Wady EL-Geded Province. The infection was confirmed by blood smears, Tams-1 target based polymerase chain reaction (Tams-1 PCR), 18Ss rRNA polymerase chain reaction and semi nested-polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) followed by DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, in addition to tick identification. Molecular techniques confirmed the infection in 63.6% (679/1068) of the examined animals while Giemsa-stained blood smears confirmed it in 36.8% (393/1062). Male and female animals showed molecular confirmed infection rates of 64.5 and 62.7%, respectively. Animals less than one year old were more infected (83.33%, 400/480) followed by animals less than three years (57.31%, 149/260) and animals less than five years (42.45%, 90/212), respectively. On the other hand, animal of five years old or above were less infected and the infection rate in this group was estimated to be 34.48% (40/116). Two tick species were identified during the present study: Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus annulatus. Theileria annulata was the only Theileria species found in the Egyptian oases in respect to phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences.