Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Current situation of tropical theileriosis in the Sudan

  • Review
  • Published:
Parasitology Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Tropical theileriosis has long been recognized as a hindrance to the development of sound dairy industry in the Sudan and is a cause of major economic losses. Serological surveys indicated that Theileria annulata infection is widespread in the country but the disease mostly affects exotic dairy breeds and their crosses with indigenous breeds. The disease has recently been identified in Darfur and southern parts of Blue Nile State in dairy farms around large urban areas where it has never been detected before. These new introductions were accompanied by the establishment of Hyalomma anatolicum tick which is the main vector of the parasite in the Sudan. The disease is routinely diagnosed using microscopic examination of stained blood and lymph node biopsy smears. More advanced techniques are mainly used for research purposes. Tropical theileriosis in the Sudan is mainly controlled by using anti-theilerial drugs and acaricide application. It is recommended that live attenuated schizont vaccines developed from locally isolated T. annulata strains be used to control the disease. In addition, every care should be taken to prevent introduction of the disease into new areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdalla MM (2007) Studies on ticks and tick-borne diseases of cattle in South Darfour Sate, Sudan. M.V. Sc. Thesis, University of Khartoum, Sudan

  • Abdalla MM, Hassan SM (2010) Current status of distribution and population dynamics of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting cattle in South Darfur State, Sudan. Univ Khartoum J Vet Sci Animal Prod 1:76–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali AM, Bakheit MA, Mukhtar MM, Hassan SM, Ahmed JS, Seitzer U (2006) Epidemiology of Theileria annulata infection of dairy cattle in the Sudan using molecular techniques. Ann NY Acad Sci 1081:471–472

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allsopp BA, Bayliss HA, Allsopp MTEP, Cavalier-Smith T, Bishop RP, Carrington DM, Sohanpal B, Spooner P (1993) Discrimination between six species of Theileria using oligonucleotide probes which detect small subunit ribosomal RNA sequences. Parasitology 107:157–165

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bakheit MA, Schnittger L, Salih DA, Boguslawski K, Beyer D, Fadl M, Ahmed JS (2004) Application of the recombinant Theileria annulata surface protein in an indirect ELISA for the diagnosis of tropical theileriosis. Parasitol Res 92:299–302

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bekker CP, de Vos S, Taoufik A, Sparagano OA, Jongejan F (2002) Simultaneous detection of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia species in ruminants and detection of Ehrlichia ruminantium in Amblyomma variegatum ticks by reverse line blot hybridization. Vet Microbiol 89:223–238

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dolan TT (1989) Theileriosis: a comprehensive review. Rev Sci Tech Off Int Epiz 8:11–36

    Google Scholar 

  • El Ghali AA, ElHussein AM (1995) Diseases of livestock in EdDamer Province, River Nile State, Sudan: a two-year retrospective study. Sud J Vet Sci Anim Husb 34:37–45

    Google Scholar 

  • El Haj LM (2010) Studies on the epidemiology and control of Theileria annulata in Khartoum State using macroschizont-infected attenuated cell culture vaccine. Ph.D. Thesis, Sudan Academy of Sciences, Khartoum

  • El Hussein AM, Mohammed SA, Osman AK, Osman OM (1991) A preliminary survey of blood parasites and brucellosis in dairy cattle in northern state. Sud J Vet Res 10:51–56

    Google Scholar 

  • El Hussein AM, Majid AA, Hassan SM (2004) The present status of tick-borne diseases in the Sudan. Country reports. Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis 81:1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • El-Imam AH (1999) Ecological and epidemiological studies on ticks and tick-borne diseases in Kosti Province, Sudan. MVSc Thesis, University of Khartoum, Sudan

  • FAO (1983a) Ticks and tick-borne diseases control. The Sudan: tick ecology and tick control, technical report no. 1, AG: CP/SUD/024/DEN, Rome

  • FAO (1983b) Ticks and tick-borne diseases control. The Sudan: studies on important tick-borne diseases of cattle, technical report no. 2, AG: CP/SUD/024/DEN, Rome

  • FAO (1983c) Ticks and tick-borne diseases control. The Sudan: epizootiology, technical report no. 3, AG: CP/SUD/024/DEN, Rome

  • Figueroa JV, Chieves LP, Johnson GS, Buening GM (1993) Multiplex polymerase chain reaction based assay for detection of Babesia bigemina, B. bovis and Anaplasma marginale DNA in bovine blood. Vet Parasitol 50:69–81

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gamal A, El Hussein AM (2003) Economic impact of theileriosis on a dairy farm in Norhern Sudan. Sud J Vet Anim Husb 42:272–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Gubbels JM, de Vos AP, van der Weide M, Viseras J, Schouls LM, de Vries E, Jongejan F (1999) Simultaneous detection of bovine Theileria and Babesia species by reverse line blot hybridization. J Clin Microbiol 37:1782–1789

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammad SA (2009) Ticks and tick-borne diseases of cattle and sheep in North Darfur State. MSc Thesis, University of Khartoum, Sudan

  • Hoogstraal H (1956) African Ixodoidea. I. Ticks of the Sudan (with special reference to Equatoria Province and with preliminary reviews of the genera Boophilus, Margaropus, and Hyalomma). Department of the Navy, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Washington, DC, USA

  • Jongejan F, Zivkovic D, Pegram R, Tatchell RJ, Fison T, Latif A, Paine G (1987) Ticks (Acari:Ixodidae) of the blue and white Nile ecosystems in the Sudan with particular refrence to the Rhipicephalus sanguineus grop. Exp Appl Acarol 3:331–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Kheir SM (2009) Prevalence of ticks and tick-borne diseases of cattle in the Red Sea State. MVSc Thesis, University of Khartoum, Sudan

  • Latif AA (1994) Economic losses in exotic breeds of cattle due to theileriosis in Sudan. In: Atelmanan AM and Kheir SM (eds) Tropical theileriosis in the Sudan. Proceedings of a workshop held at the Sudan Veterinary Association Residence, Khartoum, Sudan, 4–5 May 1994

  • Mohammed AS (1992) Prevalence and vector association of tropical theileriosis in Khartoum State. MVSc Dissertation, University of Khartoum, Sudan

  • Mohammed BB (2008) Epidemiology of tropical theileriosis in Nyala dairy farms in South Darfour State, Sudan. MVSc Thesis University of Khartoum, Sudan

  • Osman AM (1976) A review on tick-borne diseases in the Sudan and their control. Bull Off Int Epiz 86:81–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Osman OM, Ibrahim AM, Osman AG (1977) Some observations on ticks of sedentary cattle in southern Darfur Province. Proc. 8th Vet Ass Conf Khartoum, Sudan: 82–92

  • Perry BD, Young AS (1995) The past and future roles of epidemiology and economics in the control of tick-borne diseases of livestock in Africa: the case of theileriosis. Prev Vet Med 25:107–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Pipano E, Shkap V (2000) Vaccination against tropical theileriosis. Ann NY Acad Sci 916:484–500

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson PM (1982) Theileria annulata and its transmission. A review. Trop Anim Hlth Prod 14:3–12

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salih DA (2003) Epidemiological studies on tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection in cattle) in the Sudan. MVSc Thesis, University of Khartoum

  • Salih DA, Hassan SM, El Hussein AM, Jongejan F (2004) Preliminary survey of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on cattle in northern Sudan. Onderst J Vet Res 71:319–326

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salih DA, Ahmed JS, Bakheit MA, Ali EB, EL Hussein AM, Hassan SM, Sharieff OE, Fadl M, Jongejan F (2005a) Validation of the indirect TaSP enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Theileria annulata infection in cattle. Parasitol Res 97:302–308

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salih DA, Hassan SM, Bakheit MA, EL Hussein AM, Jongejan F, Ahmed J (2005b) Application of the indirect TaSP enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for diagnosis of Theileria annulata infection in cattle. In: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Ticks and Tick Borne Pathogens, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, pp. 163–166

  • Salih DA, Sharieff OE, Lazarus AG, Hassan SM, El Hussein AM (2005c) Natural infection rates and transmission of Theileria annulata by Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum ticks in the Sudan. Onderst J Vet Res 72:303–307

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salih DA, EL Hussein AM, Kyule MN, Zessin KH, Ahmed JS, Seitzer U (2007a) Determination of potential risk factors associated with Theileria annulata and Theileria parva infections of cattle in the Sudan. Parasitol Res 101:1285–1288

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salih DA, Hassan SM, El Hussein AM (2007b) Comparisons among two serological tests and microscopic examination for the detection of Theileria annulata in cattle in northern Sudan. Prev Vet Med 81:323–326

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salih DA, Liu Z, Bakheit MA, Ali AM, EL Hussein AM, Unger H, Viljoen G, Seitzer U, Ahmed JS (2008) Development and evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for diagnosis of tropical theileriosis. Trans Emerg Dis 55:238–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salih DA, Abdel Rahman MB, Mohammed AS, Ahmed R, Kamal S, El Hussein AM (2009) Seroprevalence of tick-borne diseases among cattle in the Sudan. Parasitol Res 104:845–850

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharieff OE, El Hussein AM, Hassan SM, Salma K, Salih DA, Majid AA (2003) Establishment of Theileria cell culture system in the Sudan: a mini review. Sud J Vet Sci Anim Husb 42:147–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharieff OE, El Hussein AM, Hassan SM, Salih DA (2006) Attenuation of Sudanese schizont-infected cell lines of Theileria annulata. In: Proceedings of the 7th Scientific Conference, National Center for Research, Friendship Hall, Khartoum, Sudan, 13–15 December 2005

  • Shommein AM (1976) Incidence of theileriosis in El Gorashi dairy farm. Sud J Vet Sci Anim Husb 17:19–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Sowar AE (2002) Epidemiology and ecology of ticks and tick-borne diseases in Kadogli and Dilling Provinces Southern Kordofan State, Sudan. MVSc Thesis, University of Khartoum, Sudan

  • Taha KM (2009) Experimental transmission of Theileria lestoquardi and Theileria annulata (Apicomplexa: Theileridae) and their cross transmission between cattle and sheep. Ph.D. thesis, Sudan Academy of Science, Sudan

  • Uilenberg G (1981) Theilerial species of domestic livestock. In: Irvin AD, Cunningham MP, Young AS (eds) Advances in the control of theileriosis. Martinus Nijoff, The Hague, pp 4–37

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Um El Hassan M, Jongejan F, Morzaria SP (1983) Notes on the transmission of Theileria annulata by Hyalomma ticks in the Sudan. Vet Q 5:112–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker AR, Latif AA, Morzaria SP, Jongejan F (1983) Natural infection rates of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum with Theileria in Sudan. Res Vet Sci 35:87–90

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zakia AM, Rahman MB, Osman AY (2003) A Retrospective study of bovine tropical theileriosis in exotic and cross-bred dairy cattle in Khartoum State. Sud J Vet Res 18:105–110

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft German–African Cooperation Projects in Infectiology “Molecular epidemiology network for promotion and support of delivery of live vaccines against Theileria parva and Theileria annulata infection in Eastern and Northern Africa” (DFG AH 41/7-1).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Resources Research Corporation, P.O. Box 610, Khartoum, Sudan

    Abdelrahim M. El Hussein & Diaeldin A. Salih

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan

    Shawgi M. Hassan

Authors
  1. Abdelrahim M. El Hussein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shawgi M. Hassan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Diaeldin A. Salih
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Abdelrahim M. El Hussein.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

El Hussein, A.M., Hassan, S.M. & Salih, D.A. Current situation of tropical theileriosis in the Sudan. Parasitol Res 111, 503–508 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-2951-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-2951-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation