First Molecular Evidence and Phylogeny of Hepatozoon sp. and Theileria sp. in Saudi Rodents
Simple Summary
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Sample Collection
2.2. Host Species Molecular Characterization
2.3. Molecular Identification of Hepatozoon and Theileria
2.3.1. DNA Extraction and 18S rRNA Gene Amplification and Sequencing
2.3.2. Haplotype and Phylogenetic Analysis of Hepatozoon and Theileria
3. Results
3.1. Characterization of Rodent Species
3.2. Molecular Characterization of Hepatozoon sp. and Theileria sp.
3.2.1. Prevalence of Hepatozoon and Theileria in Examined Rodents
3.2.2. Population Genetic Analysis
3.2.3. Phylogenetic Analysis
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Rodent Species | Localities | Geographical Coordinates | Hepatozoon spp. PCR Positive % | Theileria spp. PCR Positive % |
---|---|---|---|---|
A. niloticus (N = 32) | Baljurashi (n = 32) | 19°51′34″ N 41°33′26″ E | 31.25% | - |
G. cheesmani (N = 34) | Baljurashi (n = 34) | 19°51′34″ N 41°33′26″ E | 26.47% | - |
G. dasyurus (N = 6) | Baljurashi (n = 6) | 19°51′34″ N 41°33′26″ E | - | - |
G. nanus (N = 14) | 28.57% | 21.43% | ||
Al Darb (n = 4) | 17°44′00.2″ N 42°15′23.3″ E | - | 75.00% | |
Bish (n = 2) | 17°34′41.4″ N 42°31′03.2″ E | - | - | |
Ahad Al Msarha (n = 3) | 16°42′34.7″ N 42°56′12.7″ E | 100.00% | - | |
Wadi Sabya (n = 2) | 17°09′30.5″ N 42°54′45.1″ E | - | - | |
Wadi Reem (n = 1) | 23°57′52.2″ N 39°27′27.2″ E | - | - | |
Al Radha (n = 2) | 17°31′05.3″ N 42°24′40.2″ E | 50.00% | - | |
R. rattus (N = 25) | 32.00% | 24.00% | ||
Samtah (n = 2) | 16°35′29″ N 42°56′22″ E | 100.00% | - | |
Sabya (n = 3) | 17°8′56.3″ N 42°37′33.3″ E | - | - | |
Al Aridhah (n = 4) | 17°01′36.8″ N 43°02′42.1″ E | 25.00% | - | |
Fifa (n = 2) | 17°15′0″ N 43°06′0″ E | - | - | |
Al Dair (n = 4) | 17°20′43.4″ N 43°07′47.0″ E | 25.00% | - | |
Baljurashi (n = 10) | 19°51′34″ N 41°33′26″ E | 40.00% | 60.00% |
Species | Host/Geographic Origin | Geographic Origin | Accession Numbers | References | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hepatozoon sp. | Akodon sp. | Brazil | KU667308 | [44] | |
Oligoryzomys flavescens | Brazil | KU667309 | |||
Hepatozoon bashtari | Echis coloratus | Saudi Arabia | MN497412 | [13] | |
Hepatozoon sp. | Elaphe carinata | Saudi Arabia | KF939625 | [45] | |
Psammophis schokari | North Africa | KC696569 | [46] | ||
Pseudocerastes fieldi | Iran | MZ412878 | [47] | ||
Hepatozoon americanum | Canis lupus familiaris | Uruguay | OR814214 | [48] | |
Canis lupus familiaris | Uruguay | OR814215 | |||
Hepatozoon ophisauri | Ondatra zibethicus | USA | PP234622 | [49] | |
Hepatozoon canis | Fox | Spain | AY150067 | [1] | |
Dusicyon thous | Brazil | AY461375 | |||
Hepatozoon felis | Asiatic lion | India | ON075470 | [50] | |
Domestic cat | Uruguay | MT210597 | [51] | ||
Domestic cat | Uruguay | MT210598 | |||
Hepatozoon martis | Martes martes | Bosnia and Herzegovina | MG136687 | [52] | |
Martes foina | Croatia | MG136688 | |||
Hepatozoon pyramidumi | Echis pyramidum | Saudi Arabia | MT025290 | [12] | |
Hepatozoon sp. | Hap_1 | G. cheesmani | Saudi Arabia | PV342392 | Present study |
Hap_2 | G. nanus | PV342388 | Present study | ||
Hap_3 | PV342393 | ||||
Hap_4 | R. rattus | PV342391 | Present study | ||
Hap_5 | PV342394 | ||||
Hap_6 | A. niloticus | PV342389 | Present study | ||
Hap_7 | PV342390 |
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Farjallah, S.; Alagaili, A.N.; AlOsaimi, B.H.; Merella, P.; Mohammed, O.B.; Amor, N. First Molecular Evidence and Phylogeny of Hepatozoon sp. and Theileria sp. in Saudi Rodents. Vet. Sci. 2025, 12, 608. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12070608
Farjallah S, Alagaili AN, AlOsaimi BH, Merella P, Mohammed OB, Amor N. First Molecular Evidence and Phylogeny of Hepatozoon sp. and Theileria sp. in Saudi Rodents. Veterinary Sciences. 2025; 12(7):608. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12070608
Chicago/Turabian StyleFarjallah, Sarra, Abdulaziz Nasser Alagaili, Bandar H. AlOsaimi, Paolo Merella, Osama B. Mohammed, and Nabil Amor. 2025. "First Molecular Evidence and Phylogeny of Hepatozoon sp. and Theileria sp. in Saudi Rodents" Veterinary Sciences 12, no. 7: 608. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12070608
APA StyleFarjallah, S., Alagaili, A. N., AlOsaimi, B. H., Merella, P., Mohammed, O. B., & Amor, N. (2025). First Molecular Evidence and Phylogeny of Hepatozoon sp. and Theileria sp. in Saudi Rodents. Veterinary Sciences, 12(7), 608. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12070608