Co-infection with tick-borne disease agents in cattle in Russia

Abstract Tick-borne diseases cause significant livestock losses worldwide. In Russia, information concerning single or mixed infections with different Anaplasma , Theileria and Babesia species in cattle is very limited. This study was conducted to determine the level of co-infection with protozoan pathogens ( Theileria spp. and Babesia spp.) and rickettsial pathogens ( A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum ) in cattle in central Russia. Blood samples were examined with real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for A. marginale and A. phagocytophilum , and by amplifying the V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene, followed by cloning, DNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses, for Babesia and Theileria species. In total 67% of examined blood samples were positive for Theileria spp. or A. marginale , and 19% of the animals were co-infected with Theileria spp. and A. marginale . Seasonal variation in prevalence was found for Theileria spp. Phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rRNA gene sequences revealed the presence of five Theileria species: T. annulata , T. orientalis , T. buffeli , T. sergenti , and T. sinensis . No samples were positive for Babesia spp. or A. phagocytophilum . The data obtained for prevalence of bovine theileriosis and anaplasmosis in the central part of Russia underscore the need for improved surveillance and control programs to reduce tick-borne diseases in cattle.