PROTOZOAN PARASITES OF VETERINARY

IMPORTANCE

ERKIHUN AKLILU (DVM, MSc Molecular Biology

Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
March 2011

Protozoa
Protozoans are unicellular, eukaryotic chemoheterotrophic

organisms.
Most protozoa have two stages
Trophozoite the feeding and growing stage
Some protozoa will produce a protective capsule called a

cyst.
A cyst allows the parasite to exist outside of the host and
be the infective stage allowing the parasite to get to
another host.

PROTOZOA
Protozoa reproduce sexually and asexually
Asexually : Fission (mitosis), Budding, Schizogony
Sexually : Conjugation, Gamete formation
Definitive Host harbors the sexually reproducing stage

of parasite
Intermediate Host harbors asexually reproducing
portion of the parasites life cycle

Movement:
A single or multiple flagella
Cilia, Balantidium
Pseudopodia, Enramoeba
No obvious means of locomotion, Eimeria

Protozoa

PROTOZOA
Protozoans of Vet. Importance
Trypanosomes
Found in the bloodstream and tissues of

vertebrates
Distributed through out the world
A few species are of overwhelming importance as

a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in

animals and man in tropical regions
All are transmitted by arthropod vector, except
for Trypanosoma equiperdum (venereal)
Transmission: Either Cyclical or Non-cyclical
Cyclical: the arthropod is the necessary

intermediate host
Non-cyclical: Mechanical transmission by biting
flies (Tabanids and Stomoxys)

Trypansomes

TRYPANOSOMES
Tse-tse transmitted Trypanosomoses- The Salivaria,
African Trypanosmoses
The most significant, compromises livestock production

(serious economic challenge)

All are transmitted cyclically by Glossina in much of sub-

Saharan Africa
Hosts: All domestic livestock, but especially important in

cattle. Also common in many wild animals such as the

warthog, bush pig and various antelopes.
Intermediate host: Most species of Glossina, of which G.

morsitans is perhaps the most widespread.

TRYPANOSOMES
Salivaria
Site:

All three species of trypanosome are characteristically present in the

bloodstream.

T. brurcei is also found extravascularly in, for example, the myocardium,

the central nervous system and the reproductive tract.

Major species:
Trypanosoma brucei
T. congolense: the most common species
T. vivax.
Minor species:
Probably the most important is T simiae which is primarily a
parasite of pigs and camels and morphologically resembles T.
congolnse.

Salivarian trypanosome groups

Trypanosoma vivax Old and New World of large mammals

Mechanical transmission using many vectors

Trypanosoma congolense Old World of large mammals
Mouthpart development in Glossina
Trypanosoma brucei group
T. brucei brucei Nagana in cattle
T. brucei gambiense Chronic or West African sleeping sickness
T. brucei rhodesiense Acute or East African sleeping sickness

All

have full development in Glossina

Trypanosoma evansi group
T.evansi mechanical transmission in

many vectors including vampire

bats
T. equinum mechanically transmitted by horse flies
T. equiperdum sexually transmitted

Morphology of Trypanosome

Trypanosome
Trypanosoma brucei

Red blood cells

Trypanosome

African trypanosomiasis - Distribution

West African = Trypanosoma gambiense

East African = Trypanosoma rhodesiense

African Trypanosomiasis
Resistant and susceptible cattle

Ndama

Zebu

African trypanosomiasis
The tsetse fly

Distribution of the following Tsetse species groups in

Africa: morsitans group ( savanna ); fusca group
( forest); palpalis group (riverways).

Palpalis (Riverways)

Morsitans (Savanna)
Fusca (Forest)

Tsetse distribution

African Trypanosomiasis

African trypanosomiasis
Life cycle

African trypanosomiasis
Prevention and Control

Class Coccidia
Two families of veterinary importance: Eimeriidae and

Sarcocystidae
Eimeriidae
Mainly intracellular parasites of the intestinal epithelium
Three genera of considerable veterinary importance
Eimeria, Isospora and Cryptosporidium
Eimeria and Isospora cause coccidiosis
Eimeria
Hosts: Poultry, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses and
rabbits.
Site: Epithelial cells of the intestine and in two species the
kidney and liver respectively.

Class Coccidia
Table. The major features of the life cycles of important Coccidia

Class Coccidia
Eimeria
Important Species:
Eimeria tenella, E. necatrix, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E.mitis

and E. acervulina ------ chickens

E. meleagrimitis and b. adenoeides ------ turkeys
E. anseris, E. nocens and E. truncata (kidney) ---- geese
E. zuernii, E. bovis and E alabamensis -----cattle
E. crandallis, E. ovinoidalis, E. bakuensis----- sheep
E arloingi and E. ninakohlyakimovue - goats
E. debliecki ------- pigs
E .leuckarti -------- horses
E. flrrvescens, E. intestinalis and E .stiedae (liver)---rabbits.

Toxoplasma

Single species: Toxoplasma gondii

Definitive host -cat,
Oocyst shed in feces
Form trophozoites-tachyzoites(fast)
Multiply in host tissues-all cells except RBCs
Intracellular parasite ruptures cells

Signs and Symptoms of Toxoplasmosis

Fever, malaise, sore throat, swelling of lymph nodes

Immune system contains disease-chronic infection
Tissue cyst forms containing bradyzoites
Reactivate later when immune system breaks down
Can form lesions on eyes or any other organ

Toxoplasma
Life cycles
Humans ingest undercooked meat or contact with cat

feces- contain oocysts

Trophozoites released and feed on bacteria and fecal

material
Most have mild symptoms unless immunocompromised

Toxoplasma
Transmission

Toxoplasma
Transmission

Babesia

PIROPLASMIDIA

Are intraerythrocytic parasites of domestic animals

Cause anaemia and haemoglobinuria.
Transmitted by ticks (in which the protozoan passes transovarially, via the egg, from one
tick generation to the next).

The disease, babesiosis, is particularly severe in naive animals introduced

into endemic areas

Babesiosis is a severe constraint on livestock development in many parts of

the world
Hosts: All domestic animals.
Intermediate hosts: Hard ticks of the family Ixodidae

PIROPLASMIDIA
Babesia
Site:
Babesia lie singly or in pairs inside

the red blood cells.

Species:
Babesia divergens. B. major, B.
bigemina, B. bovis----cattle
B. molasi, B. ovis---- sheep and goats
B. caballi, B. equi----- equines
B. perroncitoi, B. tralirmanni--- pigs
Diverse forms of Babesra divergens
in bovine red cells.

PIROPLASMIDIA
Babesia
Epidemiology
The epidemiology of babesiosis depends on the interplay of a number of factors

and these include:

1.

The virulence of the particular species of Babesia

E.g. B. divergens in cattle and B. canis in dogs are relatively pathogenic
while B. major in cattle and B. ovis in sheep usually produce only mild and
transient anaemia

2.

The age of the host

There is an inverse age vs resistance relationship

3.

The immune status of the host

4.

The level of tick challenge

5.

Stress

PIROPLASMIDIA
Babesiosis of Cattle (Caused by B. bigemina and B. bovis)
Disease: Babesiosis (bovine), Texas fever, red water fever, piroplasmosis.
Host: Cattle, deer.
Habitat: Erythrocyte.
Identification: Trophozoites usually pyriform, may be round or oval, characteristically in

pairs. Size is 2-3 in diameter and 4-5 m long.

Transmission: By the one-host tick Boophilus

Diagnosis: Confirmed by detection of characteristic forms of the parasite within the

erythrocyte.

Treatment
Imidocarb and the diamidine derivatives such as diminazene aceturate, amicarbalide and
phenamidine, are all effective against B. Bovis and A. bigemina, especially if given early in
the disease.
Vaccination
Vaccination of cattle against both B. bovis and b. bigemina infection is commonly practiced
in many countries by inoculating blood from donor animals.

PIROPLASMIDIA
Canine Babesiasis [ Caused by Babesia canis (Piroplasma canis)]
Disease: Babesiasis (canine), malignant jaundice, biliary fever, canine

piroplasmosis.
Host: Dog and wild carnivores.
Habitat: Erythrocyte.
Identification: Organism pyriform, 4-5 m long. Usually 1 pair to a cell,

occasionally several pairs are seen in 1 erythrocyte.

Transmission: Bite of the infected ticks Rhipicephalus sanguineus and,

probably, Dermacentor spp.

Signs and pathogenicity:
Infection varies from quite mild to severe with the strain of the organism.
Young and old dogs become infected

PIROPLASMIDIA
Canine Babesiasis
Signs and pathogenicity:
Infection varies from quite mild to severe with the strain of the organism.
Young and old dogs become infected
less severe disease occurs in young animals.
Incubation period is 10-21 days in naturally infected animals.
Usual signs are fever of 102-1050 F.
Loss of condition, anemia, icterus, prostration, and death.
In chronic forms of the disease signs are vague.
The patient may be listless, weak, and emaciated and have intermittent

fever

PIROPLASMIDIA
Canine Babesiasis
Diagnosis: Demonstration of parasite in the erythrocyte, best

accomplished by taking capillary smears from the margin of

the ear.
Control:
Tick control and treatment of infected individuals.
Treatment
Acriflavine and trypaflavine have both given good results.
Phenamidine is less toxic and quite effective.

PIROPLASMIDIA

Theileria
The diseases caused by several species of Theileria are a serious

constraint on livestock development in Africa, Asia and the Middle

East
Theileriosis limits the movement of cattle between countries
Can result in production losses and high mortality in susceptible

animals
Theileria are widely distributed in cattle and sheep in Africa, Asia,

Europe and Australia

Have a variety of tick vectors
Are associated with infections which range from clinically

inapparent to rapidly fatal.

PIROPLASMIDIA

Theileriosis
East Coast Fever,
Corridor Disease,
Theileriasis,
January Disease,
Zimbabwean Tick Fever,
African Coast Fever;
Tropical Theileriosis,
Mediterranean Coast Fever,
Mediterranean Theileriosis

PIROPLASMIDIA
Theileriosis
The two diseases with the greatest economic impact in cattle:
East Coast fever (infection with Theileria parva) and
Tropical theileriosis (infection with Theileria annulata).
Minor and mildly pathogenic species infecting cattle include
T.mutans and T. taurotragi in Africa and T.sergenti in Asia
Theileria lestoquardi, which causes a severe disease with a high
morbidity and mortality rate, is the most important species in sheep
and goats.

PIROPLASMIDIA
Theileriosis
Table. A comparison of three species of Theileria of veterinary importance.

PIROPLASMIDIA

Theileriosis
Geographic Distribution

T. parva (East Coast fever) is found in sub-Saharan Africa.

T. annulata (tropical theileriosis) occurs from southern Europe and the

Mediterranean coast through the Middle East and North Africa, and into parts
of Asia.

T. mutans has been found in African and on some Caribbean islands

East Coast Fever (Caused by T.parva)

Disease: Theileriosis (bovine), East Coast fever.
Host: Cattle, water buffalo, white-tailed deer
Habitat: Erythrocytes, lymphocytes, histiocytes, and occasionally endothelial

cells.

PIROPLASMIDIA
Theileriosis
Transmission
Theileria spp. are transmitted by ticks acting as biological vectors
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is the most important vector for T. parva
But R. zembeziensis and R. duttoni carry this organism in parts of Africa. T.

annulata is transmitted by ticks in the genus Hyalomma.

Hyalomma spp. are also the vectors for T. lestoquardi, T. ovis and T.

separata
T. buffeli and T. sergenti are transmitted by Haemaphysalis spp,
T. mutans and T. velifera are transmitted by Amblyomma spp.
Ticks in the genus Rhipicephalus spread T. taurotragi

PIROPLASMIDIA

Theileriosis
Clinical Signs
In East Coast fever, the clinical

signs include
Generalized lymphadenopathy,

fever, anorexia and loss of condition

with decreased milk yield.
Terminally ill animals often develop

pulmonary edema, severe dyspnea

and a frothy nasal discharge.
Lymph nodes swelling in
T. parva infected cattle

PIROPLASMIDIA
Theileriosis
Petechiae and ecchymoses may be found

on the conjunctiva and oral mucous

membranes.

Petechial haemorrhage of the spleen

caused by T.parva

Petechial haemorrhage on the surface

(epicardium) of the hear

Petechial haemorrhage on the intestinal serosa

caused by T.parva

PIROPLASMIDIA

Theileriosis
Lacrimation, nasal discharge, corneal opacity and diarrhea can also

be seen.

PIROPLASMIDIA
Theileriosis
Diagnosis
In sick animals, macroschizonts are readily

detected in biopsy smears of lymph nodes

Theileria spp, macroshizonts (Kochs blue bodies )

and microshizonts in lymph node smears

Theileriosis

PIROPLASMIDIA

Diagnosis
In dead animals, impression smears of lymph nodes and spleen
In advanced cases, Giemsa-stained blood smears show

piroplasms in the red cells, up to 80% of which may be

parasitized
Indirect FAT

Treatment
Tetracycline for early stage of infection
For clinical cases: naphthaquinone compounds parvaquone and

buparvaquone and the anti-coccidial drug halofuginone.

PIROPLASMIDIA

Theileriosis
Vaccination
Great efforts have been made to develop a suitable vaccine, but these have

been thwarted by the complex immunological mechanisms involved in

immunity to East Coast Fever and by the discovery of immunologically
different strains of T. parva in the field