Molecular characterization of eimeria species of buffalo-calves in Haryana
Abstract
To study the prevalence of Eimeria species in Haryana, a total of 427 faecal samples were collected
from buffalo calves of four districts namely, Fatehabad, Hisar, Bhiwani and Sirsa. Parasitological
examination was carried out using saturated salt (NaCl) solution and sporulation was done by using
2.5% potassium dichromate solution to identify the species. Over-all prevalence was 57.87%. Based on
morphological characteristics and sporulation time, eleven Eimeria species were identified, these
include: E. bareillyi (38.46%), E. bovis (34.81%), E. zuernii (31.98%), E. subspherica (29.29%), E.
canadensis (19.43%), E. alabamensis (12.9%), E. ellipsoidalis (9.31%), E. cylindrica (8.09%), E.
auburnensis (7.29%), E. wyomingensis (6.07%) and E. pellita (4.45%). Prevalence among male calves
(69.39%) was significantly higher (p< 0.01) as compared to females (48.05%). Calves of 0-3 months of
age showed significantly higher (p< 0.01) prevalence (63.14%) than 4-6 months old calves (43.47%).
Similarly, calves of organized farms showed significantly higher (p< 0.01) rate of prevalence (70.86%)
than calves of unorganised sector (52.33%). Out of 247 positive samples, 118 (47.77%) had monoinfection
of Eimeria, 40 (16.19%) had two species, 65 (26.31%) had three species and 24 (9.72%) had
multiple species. Eimeria pellita has been recorded for the first time in Haryana. Based on
amplification of ITS-1 region of rRNA. five Eimeria species were confirmed to occur in Haryana. Four
Eimeria species subjected to phylogenetic analysis revealed that Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii
Indian isolates are closely related to Turkey and Japan isolates. Eimeria cylindica of Indian origin
formed a separate clade with Japanese isolate, whereas, E. alabamensis Indian isolate shared the same
clade with Japanese isolate.