Theileria annulata
Datasheet Types: Pathogen, Invasive species
Abstract
This datasheet on Theileria annulata covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Hosts/Species Affected, Vectors & Intermediate Hosts, Further Information.
Identity
- Preferred Scientific Name
- Theileria annulata
- Other Scientific Names
- Theileria dispar
Pictures

Theileria annulata schizonts and parasites
Schizonts and parasites differentiating into merozoites in an impression smear of the spleen of a calf undergoing the advanced stages of tropical theileriosis
with permission from Elsevier Science

Host and vector habitat
Interior of cattle-shed on Tunisian small holder farm: cattle, such as this high grade Holstein-Friesian bull and Hyalomma detritum, the tick vector of T. annulata, live together in such buildings; the ticks hiding in cracks and crevices in the walls.
The University of Edinburgh

Vector habitat
Sub-humid habitat of Hyalomma detritium in an endemic area of Theileria annulata in Northern Tunisia (photographed in September).
The University of Edinburgh

Vector habitat
Semi-arid habitat of Hyalomma detritum surrounding a small-holder farm in an endemic area of tropical theileriosis near Tunis, North Africa (photographed in July).
The University of Edinburgh

Cytokine production by Theileria annulata
Cytokine production by Theileria annulata schizont-infected cells in lymph node of calf undergoing tropical theileriosis: merozoite-infected cells (red) labelled with an antibody to TNF-alpha and the avidin-biotin complex/alkaline phosphatase (ABC/AP) system (Original x 1000).
Used with permision from Academic Press Ltd.

Theileria annulata infections. Parasitized mononuclear cells in kidney.
In tissues of calves undergoing tropical theileriosis: schizont-infected cells in the glomerulus of the kidney during late stages of the disease. Schizonts (brown) labelled with the ABC/HRP system (brownish colour) (Original x 1000)
Used with permission from Academic Press Ltd.

Parasitized mononuclear cells
In tissues of calves undergoing tropical theileriosis: large numbers in the wall of the abomasum. Schizonts (brown) labelled with ABC/HRP system (Original x 100)
Used with permission from Academic Press Ltd.

Parasitized mononuclear cells in the spleen
In tissues of calves undergoing tropical theileriosis: schizont-infected cells in the white and red pulp of the spleen during late stage of disease. Schizonts (brown) labelled with ABC/HRP system (Original x 100)
Used with permission from Academic Press Ltd.

Parasitized mononuclear cell
In tissues of calves undergoing tropical theileriosis: schizont-infected cells (brown) in the paracortex of the prescapular lymph node draining the site of inoculation of a calf undergoing the middle stage of disease. Schizonts labelled with an anti-schizont monoclonal antibody and the avidin-biotin complex/horse radish peroxidase (ABC/HRP) system x 1000
Used with permission from Academic Press Ltd.

Parasitized mononuclear cells
In tissues of calves undergoing tropical theileriosis: small numbers of schizont-infected cells (brown) and many merozoite-infected cells (stained blue with Harris's haematoxylin) in the medullary sinuses of the lymph nodes during the late stages of disease (Original x 1000)
Used with permission from Academic Press Ltd.

Diagnosis
Intra-erythrocytic piroplasms of Theileria annulata: typical ring forms in a smear made from the blood of a calf undergoing the advanced stages of tropical theileriosis.
Used with permission from CABI Publishing

Diagnosis
Smear of biopsy material from lymph node draining the site of inoculation showing T. annulata schizont-infected cells.
The University of Edinburgh

Vaccines
T. annulata schizont-infected cells growing in tissue culture. After prolonged culturing, such cultures become attenuated and can be used as vaccines.
The University of Edinburgh

Two-host tick life history of Theileria infection
The role of Hyalomma ticks in Theleria annulata infection in cattle.
Modified with permission of Elsevier Science
Diseases Table
Taxonomic Tree
Systems Affected
Pathogen Characteristics
Theileria annulata is a tickborne intracellular protozoan parasite of cattle, which occurs in North Africa, southern Europe, the Near and Middle East, India, China and Central Asia. It causes both mortality and reduced production, and has significant economic impacts as a result.
The sporozoites of T. annulata infect and transform macrophages and B-lymphocytes (Forsyth et al., 1997; Preston et al., 1999). The schizonts of T. annulata are the major proliferating stage, with piroplasms only undergoing limited proliferation. Elevated parasitaemias arise in T. annulata infections when erythrocytes are invaded by massive numbers of merozoites, produced by large populations of schizonts. The piroplasms of T. annulata are predominantly round or oval in shape. T. annulata shows strain variation with mortality ranging from 3-50% (Pipano, 1974; Askarov, 1975), and with virulent and mild strains co-existing in one region (Sergent et al., 1945).
For detailed distribution information, see the Distribution table in the 'Theileria annulata infections' datasheet. Updated information on the distribution of theileriosis in general (as distinct from Theileria annulata infections in particular) can be found in OIE's WAHID database on disease occurrence: http://www.oie.int/en/links/wahid/.
Distribution Map
Distribution Table
Host Animals
Host animal | Context | Life stages | Production systems |
---|---|---|---|
Bos grunniens (yaks) | Domesticated host | ||
Bos indicus (zebu) | Domesticated host | ||
Bos taurus (cattle) | Domesticated host | ||
Bubalus bubalis (Asian water buffalo) | Domesticated host | ||
Syncerus caffer | Wild host |
Vectors and Intermediate Hosts
Vector | References | Group | Distribution |
---|---|---|---|
Amblyomma integrum | Tick | ||
Boophilus annulatus | Tick | ||
Boophilus microplus | Tick | ||
Haemaphysalis bispinosa | |||
Hyalomma anatolicum | Tick | Sudan Armenia Azerbaijan Georgia (Republic of) India Iran Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Syria Tajikistan Turkey Turkmenistan Uzbekistan | |
Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum | Tick | ||
Hyalomma anatolicum excavatum | Tick | ||
Hyalomma detritum | Tick | Algeria Egypt Morocco Sudan Tunisia Azerbaijan China India Iran Israel Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Europe Spain | |
Hyalomma dromedarii | Tick | Mauritania Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan | |
Hyalomma lusitanicum | Tick | ||
Hyalomma marginatum | Tick | Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Spain | |
Hyalomma marginatum marginatum | Tick | ||
Hyalomma marginatum rufipes | Tick | ||
Hyalomma scupense | Tick | China Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan Southern Russia | |
Ornithodoros savignyi | Tick | ||
Otobius megnini | |||
Rhipicephalus appendiculatus | Tick | ||
Rhipicephalus bursa | Tick | ||
Rhipicephalus pusillus | Tick |
Links to Websites
Name | URL | Comment |
---|---|---|
Consultant | http://www.vet.cornell.edu/consultant/consult.asp |
References
Askarov EM, 1975. Virulence and immunogenicity of Theileria annulata. Veterinariya-Moscow, 5:76-78.
Forsyth LMG, Jackson LA, Wilkie G, Sanderson A, Brown CGD, Preston PM, 1997. Bovine cells infected in vivo with Theileria annulata express CD11b, the C3bi complement receptor. Veterinary Research Communications, 21(4):249-263; 31 ref.
Pipano E, 1974. Immunological aspects of Theileria annulata infection. Bulletin de l'Office International des Epizooties, 81:139-149.
Preston PM, Hall FR, Glass EJ, Campbell JDM, Darghouth MA, Ahmed JS, Shiels BR, Spooner RL, Jongejan F, Brown CGD, 1999. Innate and adaptive immune responses co-operate to protect cattle against Theileria annulata. Parasitology Today, 15(7):268-274; 53 ref.
Sergent E, Donatien A, Parrot L, Lestoquard F, 1945. Etudes sur les piroplasmoses bovines. Institut Pasteur d'Alger.
Information & Authors
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Copyright © CABI. CABI is a registered EU trademark. This article is published under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
History
Published online: 21 November 2019
Language
English
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