First Molecular Identification of <i>Babesia</i>, <i>Theileria</i>, and <i>Anaplasma</i> in Goats from the Philippines
Eloiza May Galon,
Rochelle Haidee Ybañez,
Adrian Miki Macalanda,
Giemelene Rose Estabillo,
Margaret Therese Rose Montano,
Marielle Danise Veedor,
Anatolio Garvida,
Ralph Joselle Fabon,
Mary Ruth Callanta,
Kim Joseph Labutong,
Maria Agnes Tumwebaze,
Benedicto Byamukama,
Shengwei Ji,
Iqra Zafar,
Adrian Ybañez,
Xuenan Xuan
Affiliations
Eloiza May Galon
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
Rochelle Haidee Ybañez
Institute of Molecular Parasitology and Protozoan Diseases, Main Campus and College of Veterinary Medicine, Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
Adrian Miki Macalanda
Department of Immunopathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines
Giemelene Rose Estabillo
College of Science, University of the Philippines Cebu, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
Margaret Therese Rose Montano
College of Science, University of the Philippines Cebu, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
Marielle Danise Veedor
College of Science, University of the Philippines Cebu, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
Anatolio Garvida
Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park, Philippine Racing Club Inc., Naic 4110, Philippines
Ralph Joselle Fabon
Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office IV-A, Marawoy, Lipa City 4217, Philippines
Mary Ruth Callanta
Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office IV-A, Marawoy, Lipa City 4217, Philippines
Kim Joseph Labutong
Regional Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office IV-A, Marawoy, Lipa City 4217, Philippines
Maria Agnes Tumwebaze
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
Benedicto Byamukama
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
Shengwei Ji
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
Iqra Zafar
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
Adrian Ybañez
Institute of Molecular Parasitology and Protozoan Diseases, Main Campus and College of Veterinary Medicine, Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Cebu City 6000, Philippines
Xuenan Xuan
National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan
Goats are key livestock animals and goat raising is an income-generating venture for smallholder farmers, supporting agricultural development in many parts of the world. However, goat production is often limited by various factors, such as tick-borne diseases. Goat piroplasmosis is a disease caused by apicomplexan parasites Babesia spp. and Theileria spp., while anaplasmosis is caused by bacterial Anaplasma spp. In the Philippines, the presence of Babesia, Theileria, and Anaplasma has not been reported in goats. In this study, DNA obtained from goats were molecularly screened for Babesia/Theileria and Anaplasma. Of 396, 77.02% (305/396) and 38.64% (153/396) were positive for piroplasma and Anaplasma using PCR assays targeting the 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA genes, respectively. Similarly, Babesia ovis was detected in six samples (1.52%). Representative Babesia/Theileria sequences shared 89.97–97.74% identity with each other and were most closely related to T. orientalis, T. annulata, and Theileria spp. Meanwhile, Anaplasma 16SrRNA sequences were related to A. odocoilei, A. platys, and A. phagocytophilum. This is the first molecular identification of B. ovis, Theileria spp., and Anaplasma spp. in goats from the Philippines.
