{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T05:50:01Z","timestamp":1791352201870,"version":"4.3.1"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1791331200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Vet. Sci."],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n \n Theileriosis is endemic in Central Asia; however, the geographic distribution and genetic diversity of\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n spp. in livestock in Kazakhstan remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to determine the occurrence, geographic distribution, and genetic diversity of\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n spp. in cattle and sheep in Kazakhstan.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods<\/jats:title>\n \n Blood samples from 6,224 cattle from 172 settlements across all 17 provinces of Kazakhstan and 1,467 sheep from 52 settlements in five southern provinces were collected during July\u2013August 2022 and 2023. Samples were screened using a genus-level PCR targeting the 28S ribosomal RNA (28S rRNA) gene, followed by bidirectional sequencing for species identification. Selected\n T. orientalis<\/jats:italic>\n -positive samples were further characterized by major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) genotyping.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n Among cattle, 2,142 out of 6,224 (34.4%) tested positive by PCR for at least one species of\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n .\n Theileria annulata<\/jats:italic>\n ,\n T. orientalis<\/jats:italic>\n , and\n T. sinensis<\/jats:italic>\n were detected in 27.1, 15.1, and 0.5% of cattle, respectively. The simultaneous detection of two or three species of\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n was recorded in 508 of 2,142 (23.7%) PCR-positive cattle.\n Theileria orientalis<\/jats:italic>\n was detected in all 17 surveyed provinces,\n T. annulata<\/jats:italic>\n in 16, and\n T. sinensis<\/jats:italic>\n in five. MPSP analysis identified\n T. orientalis<\/jats:italic>\n genotypes 1 (\u201cChitose\u201d), 2 (\u201cIkeda\u201d), and 3 (\u201cBuffeli\u201d). Among sheep, 169 out of 1,467 (11.5%) tested positive by PCR;\n T. ovis<\/jats:italic>\n ,\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n sp. genotype OT3, and\n T. annulata<\/jats:italic>\n were detected in 5.5, 4.4, and 2.6% of the animals examined, respectively.\n T. orientalis<\/jats:italic>\n genotype 2 (\u201cIkeda\u201d),\n T. sinensis<\/jats:italic>\n , and\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n sp. genotype OT3 were detected in Kazakhstan for the first time.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n \n The study demonstrated a widespread but geographically heterogeneous detection of\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n species among sampled cattle across Kazakhstan and enabled the first molecular characterization of infections caused by\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n species in sheep in that country. The detection of\n T. orientalis<\/jats:italic>\n genotype 2 (\u201cIkeda\u201d),\n T. sinensis<\/jats:italic>\n , and\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n sp. genotype OT3 expands the known diversity of\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n species circulating in Central Asia. Since sampling was not conducted on a probabilistic basis, the observed PCR positivity should not be interpreted as representative of\n Theileria<\/jats:italic>\n prevalence in the national livestock population. The data obtained serve as a starting point for targeted molecular surveillance of livestock and their associated tick vectors.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2026.1987322","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T04:52:31Z","timestamp":1791348751000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Molecular epidemiology and geographic distribution of Theileria spp. in Kazakhstan: a countrywide cattle survey and a southern sheep survey"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Kassym","family":"Mukanov","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Applied Genetics, National Center of Biotechnology","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexander","family":"Ostrovskii","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Applied Genetics, National Center of Biotechnology","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dinara","family":"Kamalova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Applied Genetics, National Center of Biotechnology","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anara","family":"Ryskeldina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Applied Genetics, National Center of Biotechnology","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amirkhan","family":"Kassen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Applied Genetics, National Center of Biotechnology","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maxat","family":"Berdikulov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"National Veterinary Reference Center","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sarsenbay","family":"Abdrakhmanov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexandr","family":"Shevtsov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratory of Applied Genetics, National Center of Biotechnology","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christian","family":"Bauer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"S. Seifullin Kazakh Agrotechnical University","place":["Astana, Kazakhstan"]},{"name":"Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen","place":["Giessen, Germany"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1207","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-022-07424-8","article-title":"The Piroplasmida babesia, Cytauxzoon, and Theileria in farm and companion animals: species compilation, molecular phylogeny, and evolutionary insights","volume":"121","author":"Schnittger","year":"2022","journal-title":"Parasitol Res"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"103038","DOI":"10.1016\/j.parint.2025.103038","article-title":"Genetic diversity and phylogeography of the global Theileria orientalis isolates inferred from MPSP gene sequences","volume":"106","author":"El-Alfy","year":"2025","journal-title":"Parasitol Int"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"180214","DOI":"10.1038\/sdata.2018.214","article-title":"Present and future K\u00f6ppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution","volume":"5","author":"Beck","year":"2018","journal-title":"Sci Data"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101498","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2020.101498","article-title":"Tick-borne pathogens and their vectors in Kazakhstan \u2013 a review","volume":"11","author":"Perfilyeva","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ticks Tick-Borne Diseases"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"101817","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2021.101817","article-title":"Tick distribution and detection of babesia and Theileria species in eastern and southern Kazakhstan","volume":"12","author":"Sang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Ticks Tick-Borne Diseases"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1206","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens11101206","article-title":"The prevalence of pathogens among ticks collected from livestock in Kazakhstan","volume":"11","author":"Sultankulova","year":"2022","journal-title":"Pathogens"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114430","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecolind.2025.114430","article-title":"Predicting potential suitable habitat distribution of three dominant tick species in Kazakhstan under climate and land-use change scenarios","volume":"181","author":"Jiang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Ecol Indic"},{"key":"ref8","volume-title":"Identification of Foci of Blood Parasite Diseases in Ruminants in Southern Kazakhstan","author":"Shabdarbaeva","year":"2016"},{"key":"ref9","first-page":"26","volume-title":"Parasites of Farm Animals in Kazakhstan Vol. 1","author":"Peteshev","year":"1962"},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102078","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2022.102078","article-title":"Theileria and babesia infection in cattle \u2013 first molecular survey in Kazakhstan","volume":"14","author":"Kuibagarov","year":"2023","journal-title":"Ticks Tick-Borne Diseases"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1533589","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2025.1533589","article-title":"Molecular detection of piroplasms, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia species in Kazakhstan","volume":"12","author":"Zeng","year":"2025","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1936","DOI":"10.14202\/vetworld.2024.1936-1942","article-title":"A novel recombinant Theileria annulata surface protein as an antigen in indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the serological diagnosis of tropical theileriosis","volume":"17","author":"Ryskeldina","year":"2024","journal-title":"Vet World"},{"key":"ref13","volume-title":"Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Statistical Compilation","year":"2025"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"894","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens13100894","article-title":"Molecular characterization of Anaplasma spp. in cattle from Kazakhstan","volume":"13","author":"Kadyrova","year":"2024","journal-title":"Pathogens"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"67","DOI":"10.14202\/vetworld.2025.67-75","article-title":"First study on molecular identification of Anaplasma ovis in sheep in southern Kazakhstan","volume":"18","author":"Ostrovskii","year":"2025","journal-title":"Vet World"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"511","DOI":"10.3347\/kjp.2013.51.5.511","article-title":"Phylogenetic analysis of ruminant Theileria spp. from China based on 28S ribosomal RNA gene","volume":"51","author":"Gou","year":"2013","journal-title":"Korean J Parasitol"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"937","DOI":"10.1292\/jvms.71.937","article-title":"Epidemiological survey of Theileria orientalis infection in grazing cattle in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan","volume":"71","author":"Ota","year":"2009","journal-title":"J Vet Med Sci"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2009.01.035","article-title":"Molecular identification of ovine Theileria species by a new PCR\u2013RFLP method","volume":"161","author":"Heidarpour Bami","year":"2009","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"71","DOI":"10.1385\/1-59259-192-2:71","volume-title":"Bioinformatics Methods and Protocols","author":"Burland","year":"1999"},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"msae263","DOI":"10.1093\/molbev\/msae263","article-title":"MEGA12: molecular evolutionary genetic analysis version 12 for adaptive and green computing","volume":"41","author":"Kumar","year":"2024","journal-title":"Mol Biol Evol"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"749","DOI":"10.47278\/journal.ijvs\/2026.013","article-title":"Prevalence and vectors of Theileria annulata in cattle across various ecological zones of West Kazakhstan region","volume":"15","author":"Sidikhov","year":"2026","journal-title":"Int J Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2431","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-019-06370-2","article-title":"First molecular survey of piroplasm species in cattle from Kyrgyzstan","volume":"118","author":"Akta\u015f","year":"2019","journal-title":"Parasitol Res"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"102791","DOI":"10.1016\/j.parint.2023.102791","article-title":"An epidemiological survey of vector-borne pathogens infecting cattle in Kyrgyzstan","volume":"97","author":"Zhyldyz","year":"2023","journal-title":"Parasitol Int"},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"343","DOI":"10.1016\/j.vetpar.2011.05.040","article-title":"The first survey of Theileria orientalis infection in Mongolian cattle","volume":"182","author":"Altangerel","year":"2011","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1051\/parasite\/2020017","article-title":"Molecular prevalence of Theileria infections in cattle in Yanbian, North-Eastern China","volume":"27","author":"Jia","year":"2020","journal-title":"Parasite"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"709","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ttbdis.2019.03.004","article-title":"Co-infection with tick-borne disease agents in cattle in Russia","volume":"10","author":"Bursakov","year":"2019","journal-title":"Ticks Tick-borne Diseases"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"901","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci12090901","article-title":"Molecular study of Theileria annulata and Anaplasma spp. in ixodid ticks from southern regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan","volume":"12","author":"Sayakova","year":"2025","journal-title":"Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.52578\/2305-9397-2024-4-1-87-95","article-title":"Epizootic situation and economic damage from bovine theileriosis in the south of Kazakhstan","volume":"1","author":"Berdikulov","year":"2024","journal-title":"GBJ"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"382","DOI":"10.47278\/journal.ijvs\/2022.203","article-title":"Study of the dynamics of distribution, seasonality, and degree of infection with bovine theileriosis in the territory of Turkestan region","volume":"12","author":"Kozhabaev","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1016\/S0304-4017(99)00013-8","article-title":"Infectivity and cross-immunity studies of Theileria lestoquardi and Theileria annulata in sheep and cattle: I. In vivo responses","volume":"82","author":"Leemans","year":"1999","journal-title":"Vet Parasitol"},{"key":"ref31","first-page":"51","article-title":"Theileriosis of saigas (Saiga tatarica tatarica) in Kazakhstan","volume":"1","author":"Kopeev","year":"2020","journal-title":"Bull Kyrgyz National Agrarian Univ Named After K I Skryabin"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-024-08439-z","article-title":"An epidemiological survey of bovine piroplasmosis in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China","volume":"123","author":"Zhang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Parasitol Res"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1007\/s00436-025-08491-3","article-title":"Expanding the molecular understanding of Theileria infections in cattle and yaks from Gansu and Qinghai, China","volume":"124","author":"Chai","year":"2025","journal-title":"Parasitol Res"},{"key":"ref34","first-page":"14","volume-title":"Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals","year":"2022"},{"key":"ref35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"129","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci13020129","article-title":"Molecular evidence of ovine theileriosis in selected areas of Qinghai Province","volume":"13","author":"Aan","year":"2026","journal-title":"Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"630","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2020.00630","article-title":"Molecular detection and identification of babesia spp., Theileria spp., and Anaplasma spp. in sheep from border regions, northwestern China","volume":"7","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Vet Sci"},{"key":"ref37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"76","DOI":"10.18502\/jad.v13i1.934","article-title":"Identification of Theileria species in sheep and vector ticks using PCR method in Zabol, eastern Iran","volume":"13","author":"Zarei","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Arthropod Borne Dis"},{"key":"ref38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"211","DOI":"10.1186\/s13071-017-2151-3","article-title":"Prevalence of tick-borne haemoparasites in small ruminants in Turkey and diagnostic sensitivity of single-PCR and RLB","volume":"10","author":"Bilgic","year":"2017","journal-title":"Parasites Vectors"},{"key":"ref39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens10020162","article-title":"Tick-borne Hemoparasites of sheep: a molecular research in Turkey","volume":"10","author":"Ceylan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Pathogens"},{"key":"ref40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"476","DOI":"10.3390\/ani14030476","article-title":"Molecular identification of babesia and Theileria infections in livestock in the Qinghai\u2013Tibetan plateau area, China","volume":"14","author":"Ma","year":"2024","journal-title":"Animals (Basel)"},{"key":"ref41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.1515\/ap-2018-0061","article-title":"Molecular characterization of Theileria spp. in livestock and the first report on the occurrence of Theileria sp. OT3 in Iran","volume":"63","author":"Tabaei","year":"2018","journal-title":"Acta Parasitol"},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1059","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpara.2004.05.008","article-title":"Identification, genetic diversity and prevalence of Theileria and babesia species in a sheep population from northern Spain","volume":"34","author":"Nagore","year":"2004","journal-title":"Int J Parasitol"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1007\/s11259-026-11081-y","article-title":"Genetic diversity of Theileria species identified from questing and parasitic ticks in selected areas in Qinghai, China","volume":"50","author":"Han","year":"2026","journal-title":"Vet Res Commun"},{"key":"ref44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"391","DOI":"10.1017\/S0031182006001569","article-title":"Molecular detection and characterization of piroplasms infecting cervids and chamois in northern Spain","volume":"134","author":"Garc\u00eda-Sanmart\u00edn","year":"2007","journal-title":"Parasitology"},{"key":"ref45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"195","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijppaw.2019.05.005","article-title":"Prevalence and distribution of babesia and Theileria species in roe deer from Spain","volume":"9","author":"Remesar","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Parasitol"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Veterinary Science"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1987322\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]],"date-time":"2026-10-07T04:52:41Z","timestamp":1791348761000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1987322\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]]},"references-count":45,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fvets.2026.1987322"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fvets.2026.1987322","relation":{},"ISSN":["2297-1769"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2297-1769","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,7]]},"article-number":"1987322"}}