[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-440969-105":59,"doc-detail-440969-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","molecular-characterization-of-tick-borne-piroplasms-in-captive-megaherbivores-in-thailand","Molecular characterization of tick-borne piroplasms in captive megaherbivores in Thailand","","The study investigates tick-borne hemoparasites as emerging threats to wildlife health, focusing on Theileria and Babesia in captive large herbivores in Thailand. PCR targeting the 18 S rRNA gene was used on blood from 31 animals across five species and five zoological parks. Sixteen positives were found (overall 51.6%, including one coinfection). Theileria equi-like and Theileria babicornis-like infections were detected in specific hosts, and Babesia ovata was molecularly confirmed in gaurs. No infections were detected in pygmy hippopotamuses or bantengs, providing baseline risks and supporting continued surveillance and integrated vector management.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":40,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/research-report/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/molecular-characterization-of-tick-borne-piroplasms-in-captive-megaherbivores-in-thailand/440969/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/molecular-characterization-of-tick-borne-piroplasms-in-captive-megaherbivores-in-thailand/440969.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Hazel","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-03","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":14},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What pathogens were investigated in captive megaherbivores in Thailand?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The study investigated Theileria and Babesia as tick-borne hemoparasites using PCR targeting the 18 S rRNA gene.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"How many animals were sampled, and what was the overall infection rate?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"Blood samples from 31 captive individuals across five herbivore species were analyzed, with 16 positives, yielding an overall infection rate of 51.6% (16/31).",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"Which notable detection results were reported for gaur and other species?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"Gaurs showed 33.3% infection with one Babesia ovata infection, two Theileria orientalis infections, and one coinfection; no infections were detected in pygmy hippopotamuses or bantengs.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},440969,1791011995,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":39,"category_name":40,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":14,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":44,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144},137441390410,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/2000252f4ab5702993?_k=1776741390130283984","Parasitology Research (2026) 125:2  \n[https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-025-08618-6](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-025-08618-6)  \nRESEARCH  \nMolecular characterization of tick-borne piroplasms in captive megaherbivores in Thailand  \nC. Mongkolphan1 · S. Buamas2 · S. Tangsudjai1  \nReceived: 23 August 2025 / Accepted: 10 December 2025 © The Author(s) 2026, modified publication 2026  \nAbstract  \nTheileria and Babesia are emerging threats to wildlife health but remain underreported in captive large herbivores. This study aimed to investigate the presence and genetic identity of Theileria and Babesia in large captive herbivores in Thailand using PCR targeting the 18 S rRNA gene. Blood samples were collected from 31 individuals representing five herbivore species: Malayan tapirs (Tapirus indicus), white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum), pygmy hippopotamuses (Choeropsis liberiensis), bantengs (Bos javanicus), and gaurs (Bos gaurus) across five zoological parks in central Thailand. A total of 16 positive samples were identified, including one coinfection, resulting in an overall infection rate of 51.6%(16/31; 95% CI: 33.1–69.9) . Theileria equi-like was detected in 37.5%(3/8; 95% CI: 8.5–75.5) of Malayan tapirs. Theileriabicornis was detected in 75%(9/12; 95% CI: 42.8–94.5) of white rhinoceroses. In gaur, the infection rate was 33.3%(4/12; 95% CI: 9.9–65.1), comprising one Babesia ovata infection, two Theileria orientalis, and one coinfection. This study provided the first molecular confirmation of Babesia ovata infection in gaurs. No infections were detected in pygmy hippopotamuses or bantengs. These results provide novel baseline data on tick-borne pathogens in captive environments, highlighting potential risks to susceptible wildlife, both non-domestic and domestic species, and underscoring implications for conservation. Our findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance, integrated vector management, and targeted control strategies in zoological settings to mitigate pathogen transmission and protect animal health.  \nKeywords Babesia · Theileria · Malayan tapir · White rhinoceros · Gaur  \nIntroduction  \nNatural infection with tick-borne pathogens is common among wild animals in areas where tick vectors are abundant. Among wild herbivores, commonly reported hemoparasites are Anaplasma, Babesia, Theileria, and Borrelia (King’ori et al. 2019 ; Qiu et al. 2021) . These pathogens are transmitted primarily through the bites of infected ticks and can cause a wide range of clinical symptoms (Rocha et al. 2022) . Clinical outcomes may vary from  \nSection Editor: Leonhard Schnittger  \n􀀍 S. Tangsudjai [siriporn.tau@mahidol.ac.th](siriporn.tau@mahidol.ac.th)  \n1 Monitoring and Surveillance Center for Zoonotic Diseases in Wildlife and Exotic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand  \n2 Prasu-arthorn Animal Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand  \nsubclinical infections to severe, depending on the host species, immune status, and pathogen involved (Pustijanac et al. 2023 ; Gong et al. 2025) . In captivity, these wild herbivores are often raised in mixed-species enclosures or near other breeds, which can facilitate the spread of pathogens. Captivity-related stress limited genetic diversity, and proximity to domestic animals and humans may further increase their susceptibility to infection (Fischer and Romero 2019; Karaer et al. 2023) . Importantly, these animals may serve as reservoirs for hemoparasites, potentially contributing to pathogen maintenance and transmission cycles, including spillovers to other wildlife, pets, or humans (Byun et al. 2024 ; Kazimírová et al. 2024) .  \nSeveral large herbivore species of conservation concern such as the Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus) (IUCN 2016), white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) (IUCN 2020), pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis)(IUCN 2015), gaur (Bos gaurus) (IUCN 2016), and banteng (Bos javanicu","cbCaicVC9gfhgk72","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaicVC9gfhgk72","pdf",2754443,"English","# Abstract\n# Keywords\n# Introduction","[{\"question\":\"What pathogens were investigated in captive megaherbivores in Thailand?\",\"answer\":\"The study investigated Theileria and Babesia as tick-borne hemoparasites using PCR targeting the 18 S rRNA gene.\"},{\"question\":\"How many animals were sampled, and what was the overall infection rate?\",\"answer\":\"Blood samples from 31 captive individuals across five herbivore species were analyzed, with 16 positives, yielding an overall infection rate of 51.6% (16/31).\"},{\"question\":\"Which notable detection results were reported for gaur and other species?\",\"answer\":\"Gaurs showed 33.3% infection with one Babesia ovata infection, two Theileria orientalis infections, and one coinfection; no infections were detected in pygmy hippopotamuses or bantengs.\"}]","Molecular characterization of tick-borne piroplasms in captive megaherbivores in Thailand | PDF",1790694125,23]