Characterization of tabanid flies (Diptera: Tabanidae) in South Africa and Zambia and detection of protozoan parasites they are harbouring

Article Authors: MOETI O. TAIOE, MAKHOSAZANA Y. MOTLOANG , BONIFACE NAMANGALA, AMOS CHOTA, NTHATISI I. MOLEFE, SIMON P. MUSINGUZI, KEISUKE SUGANUMA, POLLY HAYES, TOI J. TSILO, JOHN CHAINEY, NOBORU INOUE, ORIEL M. M. THEKISOE

Abstract

Tabanids are haematophagous flies feeding on livestock and wildlife. In the absence of information on the relationship of tabanid flies and protozoan parasites in South Africa and Zambia, the current study was aimed at characterizing tabanid flies collected in these two countries as well as detecting protozoan parasites they are harbouring. A total of 527 tabanid flies were collected whereby 70·2% were from South Africa and 29·8% were from Zambia. Morphological analysis revealed a total of five different genera collected from the sampled areas namely: Ancala, Atylotus, Haematopota, Philoliche and Tabanus. DNA extracted from South African Tabanus par and Tabanus taeniola tested positive for the presence of Trypanosoma congolense (Savannah) and Trypanosoma theileri whilst one member from T. par was positive for Trypanosoma brucei species. DNA extracted from Zambian tabanid flies tested positive for the presence of Besnoitia species at 1·27% (2/157), Babesia bigemina 5·73% (9/157), Theileria parva 30·11% (30/157) and 9·82% (14/157) for Trypanosoma evansi. This study is the first to report on relationship of Babesia and Theileria parasites with tabanid flies. Further investigations are required to determine the role of tabanids in transmission of the detected protozoan parasites in livestock and wildlife in South Africa and Zambia.

Key words: Horse flies, tabanids, Babesia bigemina, Besnoitia spp., Theileria parva, Trypanosoma species.

Bibliographical metadata

Journal Parasitology
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Place of Publication London
Volume 144
Issue No. 9
Pages 1162-1178
ISSN 0031-1820 (Print), 1469-8161 (Online)
DOI 10.1017/S0031182017000440
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Affiliation

  • Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Private Bag X6001, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
  • Parasites, Vectors and Vector-borne Diseases, ARC-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, Private Bag X05, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
  • Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
  • Department of Paraclinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
  • National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
  • Agricultural Research Council–Small Grain Institute, Bethlehem 9700, Free State, South Africa
  • Department of Entomology, The Natural History Museum, London, UK
  • Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan

Links

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/parasitology/article/characterization-of-tabanid-flies-diptera-tabanidae-in-south-africa-and-zambia-and-detection-of-protozoan-parasites-they-are-harbouring/BD4D1C7F7881AF5F8ADBAE10FF3F7733

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