Cattle co-infection patterns by hemopathogens and their phylogenetic analysis during the tick season in Constantine and Mila, Northeast Algeria

Tropical theileriosis, babesiosis, and anaplasmosis are the most dominant tick-borne infections in North Africa where they cause significant economic losses in ruminants' industry. The aim of the present work was to study infections and co-infection patterns in 66 cattle with clinical signs of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis in two localities, Beni Hamidene and Grarem Gouga, districts of Constantine and Mila (Northeast of Algeria), respectively. This study was conducted between early May and late September during four years 2017, 2018, 2020, and 2021. PCR showed that the most frequent pathogen in cattle with clinical signs of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis was Theileria annulata (66/66; 100%) followed by Babesia bovis (21/66; 31.8%), Anaplasma marginale (15/66; 22.7%), and Babesia bigemina (3/66; 4.5%) (p < 0.001). Giemsa-stained blood smears examinations revealed that 66.7% (44/66); 10.6% (7/66); and 9.1% (6/66) of cattle were infected by T. annulata, Babesia spp., and A. marginale, respectively (p < 0.001). PCR revealed seven co-infection patterns: T. annulata/A. marginale (15/66; 22.7%), T. annulata/B. bovis (21/66; 31.8%), T. annulata/B. bigemina (3/66; 4.5%), T. annulata/A. marginale/B. bovis (7/66; 10.6%), T. annulata/B. bovis/B. bigemina (2/66; 3%), T. annulata/A. marginale/B. bigemina (1/66; 1.5%), and T. annulata/A. marginale/B. bigemina/B. bovis (1/66; 1.5%). Phylogenetic analyses showed that T. annulata Tams1 and B. bigemina gp45 sequences were identical to isolates from Mauritania and South Africa, respectively. The three A. marginale amplicons obtained herein had 99.63 to 99.88% similarity between them. This study provides data that can be used to improve control programs targeting these cattle hemopathogens.

Automated summary

In this study, infections and co-infection patterns were studied in 66 cattle with clinical signs of piroplasmosis and/or anaplasmosis in two districts of Northeast Algeria. The most frequent pathogen in these cattle was Theileria annulata, followed by Babesia bovis, Anaplasma marginale, and Babesia bigemina. Co-infection patterns were also identified.