Molecular identification of Eimeria species in cattle from Veracruz, Mexico

Abstract The presence of Eimeria in livestock farms implies significant economic losses, compromising the welfare and animal health of affected bovines. The objectives of this study were to obtain the molecular identification of Eimeria species and to create the phylogeny for analysis. Fecal samples were collected from 930 animals distributed in 62 cattle farms located in the center of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. A total of 57 oocyst concentrations from cattle farms were used. In 57 of the 62 farms in this study, it was possible to carry out the concentration of oocysts. Extraction and PCR were created through the internal transcribed spacer region 1 (ITS-1) of ribosomal rRNA genes. Twenty-six of the 57 (45.6%) samples were amplified at 500 bp. The presence of pathogenic species such as Eimeria bovis, Eimeria zuernii, in addition to Eimeria ellipsoidalis, Eimeria cylindrica, Eimeria budkinonensis and Eimeria canadensis, infecting calves in the region was confirmed. The phylogenetic tree correctly differentiated the presence of seven Eimeria species, reporting incidentally the presence of paratenic hosts among production animals. It is concluded that these results can be useful to improve the management and productivity of cattle in the Mexican tropics.