Patterns of parasite infection in the African elephant populations in Kenya

  1. King ori, Edward Mutethia
Supervised by:
  1. María Patrocinio Morrondo Pelayo Director
  2. Samer Angelone Director
  3. Ramón C. Soriguer Escofet Director

Defence university: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

Fecha de defensa: 18 May 2021

Committee:
  1. Ignacio Antonio García Bocanegra Chair
  2. Rosario Panadero Fontán Secretary
  3. Luís Miguel Martins Lucas Cardoso Committee member
Department:
  1. Department of Animal Pathology

Type: Thesis

Abstract

In this thesis helmint infection patterns, Amblyomma tholloni phylogeography and genetic structure and the molecular characterization of Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia and Theileria in African elephants have been studied. There was a higher prevalence of nematodes than trematodes. Tick genetic analysis revealed low genetic differentiation between regions. The molecular identification of Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, Babesia and Theileria in elephants and ticks showed that these animals were infected with a novel Babesia spp. while A. thollonii was infected with Theileria bicornis and Theileria cf. velifera. The prevalence of Babesia spp., Theileria spp. and Ehrlichia spp. in ticks was higher than in their hosts.