Molecular diversity of theileria parva in Kilosa District, Tanzania

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2013

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

Theileria parva is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite causing East Coast fever in Eastern and Central Africa. A study was conducted between February and May 2012 in six villages in Kilosa district in Tanzania to determine the diversity of the T. parva parasite circulating in the district. Also data of the disease cases reported to Veterinary investigation centres (VIC’s) and compiled by the Ministry of Livestock Development and Fisheries, were analyzed to gain insight into the current status of ECF in Tanzania. To determine the diversity, convectional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was used to amplify antigenic genes coding for sporozoite surface protein (p67) using DNA extracted from cattle blood samples naturally infected with T. parva and T. parva isolated from ticks. A total of 100 cattle blood and 95 tick samples were collected. PCR products (banding Patten) were analyzed to characterize T. parva parasite that occur in cattle and ticks. Analysis of the PCR products suggested the existence of two groups of T. parva parasites with band sizes 800 and 900 bp respectively. This study has found that there is T. parva allele in Kilosa that is not in the imported ECF trivalent vaccine (“Muguga cocktail’’) currently in use. Three year records (2008-2010) of the disease indicate lower prevalence of ECF compared to prevalence reported by other previous studies. The low prevalence observed in this study suggests that reports from Vic’s cannot give good estimates of ECF prevalence due to under reporting, poor diagnosis, poor records keeping and others in the field. It was recommended that more research has to be conducted so as to establish the complete list of parasite circulating in Kilosa district and the region.

Description

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of master of science in molecular biology and biotechnology

Keywords

Molecular diversity, Theileria parva, Kilosa District, Tanzania

Citation