Search of Tash-like nucleotide sequence(s) in Iranian ovine theileria genomes

Theileria lestoquardi and Theileria ovis are the causative agents of ovine theileriosis in Iran. The disease severity and the outcomes of these two species are completely different. Theileria lestoquardi unlike Theileria ovis, causes a severe disease with a high morbidity and mortality rate called ovine and caprine malignant theileriosis. The pathogenicity aspects of T.lestoquardi are poorly understood. Many studies have investigated the pathogen molecules of Theileria annulata and Theileria parva involved in both host cell transformation and proliferation. Tash (Theileria annulata schizont) pathogens proteins in theileria annulata are secrotome proteins, synthesized in schizont stage, located to parasite and host cell nucleus and are related to parasite pathogenicity. In the present study, multiple primers were designed based on Tash genes and the presence of Tash-like sequence in Theileria lestoquardi and Theileria ovis genomes were assessed. A 420 bp nucleotide sequene in T.Lestoquardi which was very similar to TashHN in theileria annulata was identified. This is the first report of a Theilerial lestoquardi sequence that would appear related to pathogenecity of malignant theileriosis in sheep.