An experimental ovine Theileriosis: The effect of Theileria lestoquardi infection on cardiovascular system in sheep

• This is the first experimental study to evaluate the effect of T. lestoquardi infection on the cardiovascular system of infected sheep by biochemical, pathological and electrocardiographic methods.
• T. lestoquardi infection was caused to increase in cTnI, LDH and AST activities and to decrease CPK activity.
• Electrocardiography revealed sinus tachycardia, sinus arrhythmia, sino-atrial (SA) block and ST-elevation, atrial premature beat, alteration in QRS and T waves amplitude.
• Heart histopathological examination showed infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells, endocarditis and focal necrosis of cardiac muscle cells.

The malignant ovine theileriosis is caused by Theileria lestoquardi, which is highly pathogenic in sheep. Theileriosis involves different organs in ruminants, but the effect of the disease on the cardiovascular system is unclear. To understand the pathogenesis of T. lestoquardi on the cardiovascular system, Baluchi breed sheep were infected with the mentioned parasite by releasing unfed adults of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum, which were infected with T. lestoquardi. The infected sheep were clinically examined on days 0, 2, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14, 17, and 21, and the blood samples were collected for biochemical parameters measurement. At termination of the experiment, the infected sheep were euthanized and pathological examinations of heart tissue were conducted. During experimental infection of sheep with T. lestoquardi, activities of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), lactate dehydrogenase, and aspartate aminotransferase, were significantly increased (P ˂ 0.05), while a conspicuous decrease (P ˂ 0.05) was observed in creatine phosphokinase activities. Alterations made in biochemical factors almost coincided with the presence of piroplasm in the blood and schizont in lymph nodes. Maximum and minimum of parasitemia in the sheep stood between 3.3% and 0.28%, respectively. In addition, electrocardiography revealed sinus tachycardia, sinus arrhythmia, sino-atrial block and ST-elevation, atrial premature beat, and alteration in QRS and in T waves’ amplitude. Heart histopathological examination showed hyperemia, infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells into interstitial tissue, endocarditis, and focal necrosis of cardiac muscle cells. In addition, in one of the sheep, definite occurrence of infarction was observed. The results indicate that T. lestoquardi infection has devastating pathological impacts on the cardiovascular system of sheep. Furthermore, measurement of the cTnI amount is a useful biochemical factor for diagnosis and for better understanding of the severity and progression of the disease and its effects on cardiac tissue.

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