First Molecular Identification and Genetic Characterization of Theileria lestoquardi in Sheep of the Maghreb Region

Theileria lestoquardi is the most prominent Theileria species in small ruminants
that causes malignant theileriosis of sheep in Africa and Asia. In the present survey,
blood samples and ticks were collected in Kebili (southern Tunisia) from 166
Queue Fine de l’Ouest sheep. Giemsa-stained blood smears, immunofluorescent
antibody test (IFAT) and PCR were performed. The DNA was extracted from
blood and analysed by PCR targeting 18S rRNA gene of Theileria spp. and then
sequenced. A total number of 140 ticks were collected from a total number of 166
sheep during the four seasons. The ticks belonged to two genera and 4 species; the
most frequent tick was Hyalomma excavatum 84.3% (118/140) and then Rhipicephalus
spp. 15.7% (22/140). Only two animals had positive Giemsa-stained
blood smears, and they were also positive by IFAT. The amplicons had 99.3 and
99.6% homology with the BLAST published T. lestoquardi amplicons. To our
knowledge, this is the first report of T. lestoquardi in small ruminants within the
Maghreb region.