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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #363547
Research Project: Detection and Control of Foodborne Parasites for Food Safety

Location: Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory

Title: Prevalence of Eimeria species in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Egypt and first report of Eimeria bareillyi oocysts

Author
item EL-ALFY, E - Mansoura University
item ABBAS, I.E. - Mansoura University
item AL-KAPPANY, Y. - Mansoura University
item AL-ARABY, M. - Mansoura University
item ABU-ELWAFA, S.A. - Mansoura University
item Dubey, Jitender

Submitted to: Journal of Parasitology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2019
Publication Date: 10/1/2019
Citation: El-Alfy, E., Abbas, I., Al-Kappany, Y., Al-Araby, M., Abu-Elwafa, S., Dubey, J.P. 2019. Prevalence of Eimeria species in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Egypt and first report of Eimeria bareillyi oocysts. Journal of Parasitology. 105:748-754.

Interpretive Summary: Toxoplasma, Neospora, Sarcocystis, Eimeria, and Cystoisopora are related coccidian parasites that cause severe illness in livestock. The oocyst is the environmentally resistant stage passed in feces of the definitive hosts. While Toxoplasma and Neospora have wide host range, Eimeria are generally host specific. Coccidiosis is an important disease of water buffaloes in many countries. In the present paper, the authors report for the first time Eimeria bareillyi prevalence in Egypt; E. bareillyi is the most pathogenic species in buffaloes. Worldwide reports of Eimeria prevalence in buffaloes is summarized. This paper will be of interest to parasitologists and veterinarians in diagnosis of coccidiosis in buffaloes.

Technical Abstract: Coccidiosis is a common disease of livestock including water buffaloes. Reports discussing the prevalence and identity of coccidian parasites in water buffaloes from Egypt are few and nothing is known concerning the most pathogenic species, Eimeria bareillyi. Fresh feces collected from 175 water buffaloes in Dakahlia governorate, Egypt, were processed using the standard flotation technique. Eimeria species oocysts were found in 49 (28%) samples. Ten Eimeria species were identified. Eimeria bareillyi oocysts were found in 10 samples (5.7%), 3 of them were from diarrheic calves as the single species found. Typical oocysts of Eimeria auburnensis with smooth oocyst wall were observed in 4 (2.3%) samples. Closely similar oocysts were found in a single sample (0.6%) altogether with those of E. auburnensis. These oocysts had a rough granulated or mammillated wall and referred to as E. auburnensis-like oocysts. A molecular study is needed to clarify whether oocysts of E. auburnensis and E. auburnensis-like are different species. The other identified Eimeria species were Eimeria alabamensis (0.6%), Eimeria bovis (10.8%), Eimeria canadensis (1.1%), Eimeria cylindrica (4%), Eimeria ellipsoidalis (2.3%), Eimeria subspherica (2.8%) and Eimeria zuernii (9.7%). This is the first report of E. bareillyi oocysts in water buffaloes from Egypt.