Contrasting population genetics of co-endemic cattle- and buffalo- derived Theileria annulata

Umer Chaudhry; Qasim Ali; Lynn Zheng; Imran Rashid; Muhammad Zubair Shabbir; Muhammad Numan; Kamran Ashraf; Mike Evans; Shahzad Rafiq; Muhammad Oneeb; Liam J Morrison; W Ivan Morrison; Neil D Sargison

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101595

Contrasting population genetics of co-endemic cattle- and buffalo- derived Theileria annulata

Ticks Tick Borne Dis. 2021 Jan;12(1):101595. doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101595. Epub 2020 Oct 19.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK; Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, UK. Electronic address: u.chaudhry@surrey.ac.uk.
² Department of Parasitology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
³ Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK.
⁴ Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore, Pakistan.
⁵ Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Livestock and Dairy Department, Okara, Pakistan.
⁶ Roslin Institute, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, UK. Electronic address: Neil.Sargison@ed.ac.uk.

PMID: 33113478
DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2020.101595

Abstract

A study was designed to improve understanding of the genetics of Theileria annulata populations in sympatric cattle and Asian buffalo (Bubalus bubalus). The study was undertaken in the Punjab province of Pakistan, where the prevalence of tropical theileriosis is high. Parasite materials were collected from infected animals in defined regions, where cattle and Asian buffalo are kept together. Six satellite DNA markers and a mitochondrial cytochrome b marker were used to explore the multiplicity of T. annulata infection and patterns of emergence and spread of different parasite genotypes. The results show differences in the numbers of unique satellite locus alleles, suggesting that T. annulata is genetically more diverse in cattle- than in buffalo-derived populations. Heterozygosity (H_e) indices based on satellite and cytochrome b loci data show high levels of genetic diversity among the cattle- and buffalo-derived T. annulata populations. When considered in the context of high parasite transmission rates and frequent animal movements between different regions, the predominance of multiple T. annulata genotypes and multiple introductions of infection may have practical implications for the spread of parasite genetic adaptations; such as those conferring vaccine cross-protection against different strains affecting cattle and Asian buffalo, or resistance to antiprotozoal drugs.

Keywords: Antiprotozoal drugs; Multiplicity of infection; Theileria annulata; Tropical theileriosis; Vaccine cross-protection.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Buffaloes*
Cattle
Cattle Diseases / parasitology*
Genetic Variation*
Genotype*
Theileria annulata / genetics*