Identification and molecular characterization of Theileria sp. infecting red deer (Cervus elaphus) in northwestern Poland

Piroplasms from Theileria genus were detected in blood and spleen of red deer Cervus elaphus culled during the months of September 2004–January 2005 in northwestern Poland. The polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of Theileria deoxyribonucleic acid in 88% (36 of 41) of the animals examined. Molecular characterization of the parasites based on large piece of 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene containing hypervariable region V4 showed 99.9% similarity to two Theileria spp. sequences: Theileria sp. 3185/02 and Theileria capreoli BAB1158. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that the three isolates cluster together with high bootstrap support. It is supposed that those pathogens can be classified as one group characteristic for the Eurasian continent, contrary to protozoon of Theileria from the T. cervi group, which are often found on the North American continent and can also infect the representatives of Cervidae. In conclusion, this study suggested that free-living C. elaphus in northwestern Poland are a competent reservoir of Theileria sp. ZS T04 C.e. parasites, although the vector of the piroplasms is still unknown.