Evaluation of PCR to detect Theileria parva in field-collected tick and bovine samples in Tanzania

Ogden, N. H., Gwakisa, P., Swai, E., French, N. P., Fitzpatrick, J., Kambarage, D. and Bryant, M. (2003) Evaluation of PCR to detect Theileria parva in field-collected tick and bovine samples in Tanzania. Veterinary Parasitology, 112 (3). pp. 177-183. ISSN 0304-4017 doi: 10.1016/s0304-4017(02)00448-x

Abstract/Summary

The ability of PCR to detect infections of Theileria parva, the cause of East Coast Fever, in field-collected tick and bovine samples from Tanzania was evaluated. PCR-detected infection prevalence was high (15/20, 75%) in unfed adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks that fed as nymphs on an acutely-infected calf, but low (22/836, 2.6%) in unfed adult R. appendiculatus collected from field sites in Tanzania. Tick infection prevalence was comparable to that in previous studies that used salivary gland staining to detect T parva infection in field-collected host-seeking ticks. Of 282 naturally-exposed zebu calves, seven had PCR-positive buffy coat samples prior to detection of Theileria spp. parasites in stained huffy coat cells or lymph node biopsies. Evidence of Theileria spp. infections was detected in stained smears of lymph node biopsies from 109 calves (38.6%) and huffy coat samples from 81 (28.7%), while huffy coat samples from 66 (23.4%) were PCR-positive for T parva. Implications of these findings for the sensitivity and specificity of the PCR are discussed. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/9000
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Uncontrolled Keywords	Theileria parva, Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, ECF, PCR, Tanzania, RHIPICEPHALUS-APPENDICULATUS TICKS, POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION, CATTLE, INFECTIONS, AFRICA, KENYA
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