Research note

A comparison of two different techniques for the detection of blood parasite, Theileria annulata, in cattle from two districts in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa Province (Pakistan)

Comparaison de deux techniques de détection de Theileria annulata chez des bovins de deux districts de la province de Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa (Pakistan)

¹ Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science and Technology Kohat, Pakistan
² Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Zoology Division, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
³ Institute of Biotechnology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

^* Correspondence: Furhan Iqbal, Department of Zoology, Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan. Tel.: 92 61 9210053 – Fax: 92 61 9210098. E-mail: furhan.iqbal@bzu.edu.pk

Received: 27 June 2011
Accepted: 22 November 2011

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Theileria annulata in large ruminants from two districts, Peshawar and Kohat, in Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa (Pakistan). Blood samples were collected from 95 cattle. Data on the characteristics of animals and herds were collected through questionnaires. No significant risk factors were found associated with the spread of tropical theileriosis in the study area. Two different parasite detection techniques, PCR amplification and screening of Giemsa stained slides, were compared and it was found that PCR amplification is a more sensitive tool (33.7% parasite detection), as compared to smear scanning (5.2% parasite detection) for the detection of Theileria annulata. 32 out of 95 animals, from both districts, produced the 721-bp fragment specific for Theileria annulata.

Résumé

Une étude a été menée afin de déterminer la prévalence de Theileria annulata chez 95 bovidés de deux districts (Peshawar et Kohat) de la province de Khyber Pukhtoon Khwa au Pakistan. L’âge des bovins, la présence de tiques chez ceux-ci, ainsi que la présence de tiques chez les chiens du troupeau ne sont pas des facteurs de risque impliqués dans la diffusion de la theilériose dans la zone étudiée. La comparaison de deux techniques de détection du parasite (PCR et frottis sanguin coloré au Giemsa) a montré que la PCR était plus sensible (33,7 %) que le frottis (5,2 %).