Theileria
| Theileria spp | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Protista |
| Phylum | Protozoa |
| Order | Piroplasmorida |
| Family | Theileriidae |
| Genus | Theileria |
| Species | Theileria parva and others |
Introduction
Theileria species are a group of protozoan pathogens causing severe lymphatic proliferative disease in cattle.
T. parva is the species of most veterinary importance, affecting cattle in Central and Eastern Africa and is the cause of East Coast Fever.
Other species cause significant economic losses in the Mediterranean, Middle East and Northern Africa.
Lifecycle
Theileria are transmitted via the Haemaphysalis and Rhipicephalus species of tick vectors.
Sporozoites enter mononuclear cells of the host and develop into trophozoites and multinucleate schizonts by asexual reproduction. This process stimulates proliferation of the host cells, allowing further multiplication of the parasite. The local lymph nodes are first infected.
Schizonts then disseminate through the lymphoid tissues before differentiating into merozoites.
The merozoites enter the erythrocytes and form piroplasms which are infective to ticks and capable of sexual reproduction.
Sexual reproduction occurs within the nymph and larval stages of the tick and the final infective stage is present within the salivary glands and is transmitted to mammalian hosts when bloodfeeding.
Transmission in the tick is then trans-stadial.
In endemic areas, endemic stability is often reached, in which most or all cattle may be infected and be carriers and most ticks are also infected, but young calves gain solid immunity from their immune dams and therefore rarely show clinical disease. This state however takes time to stabilise and will cause significant economic losses in the process.
For more information on ticks as vectors, see Tick Disease Transmission.
Pathogenesis
Lymphocytes are killed by invading protozoa and later in disease, lymphopoeisis is reduced and prevented.
Diseases
Theileria parva
T. parva is primarily a parasite of African buffalo and the cause of Bovine Theileriosis and East Coast Fever. It may be transmitted by a wide range of tick hosts although Rhipicephalus appeniculatus is the most importnat in the field.
The protozoa form rod shaped piroplasms within host erythrocytes.
Sheep and mice can also be infected.
Theileria annulata
Also Known As: T. dispar
T. annulata is also a cause of Bovine Theileriosis. The parasite infects macrophages and B Lymphocytes forming round or oval piroplasma within host erythrocytes.
It also infects sheep and yaks.
Theileria equi
Theileria equi (formerly Babesia equi) and Babesia caballi cause babesiosis in horses.
| Theileria Learning Resources | |
|---|---|
 Test your knowledge using flashcard type questions |
Piroplasmida Flashcards |
References
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This article was originally sourced from The Animal Health & Production Compendium (AHPC) published online by CABI during the OVAL Project. The datasheet was accessed on 4/06/2011. |
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This article has been expert reviewed by Nick Lyons MA VetMB CertCHP MRCVS Date reviewed: July 8, 2012 |
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