Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42337585›Full record

ArticleParasites & vectors2026

Borrelia theileri infection in beef and dairy cattle in Israel: molecular detection and co-infection with bovine piroplasmids.

Dor Shwartz, Harold Salant, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Netta Simon, Monica Leszkowicz-Mazuz, Daniel Yasur-Landau, Dan Gleser, Eyal Klement, Nir Rudoler, Elad Eliahoo and 1 more

Abstract read
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Article in Parasites & vectors, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Dor ShwartzKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel. dor.shwartz@mail.huji.ac.il.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0005-2505-5045
Harold SalantKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Yaarit Nachum-BialaKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Netta SimonKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Monica Leszkowicz-MazuzKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Daniel Yasur-LandauKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Dan GleserKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Eyal KlementKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Nir RudolerKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Elad EliahooKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
Gad BanethKoret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, P.O. Box 12, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTick-borne relapsing fever is an infectious disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Borrelia, leading to fever and spirochetemia in humans and animals. Borrelia theileri is the agent of bovine relapsing fever, which is transmitted by ixodid ticks of the genus Rhipicephalus and has been reported to cause mild disease in cattle. It has been infrequently reported in several countries over a broad geographic area; however, it has not been reported in Israel previously.

methodsBlood samples were collected from beef and dairy cattle in 23 locations in Israel. Real-time and conventional PCR were used to detect Borrelia spp. and co-infection with bovine piroplasmids. PCR products were sequenced, and phylogenetic analysis of the B. theileri sequences was performed. Positive cattle were identified in a limited number of locations with no clear spatial clustering.

resultsBorrelia theileri DNA was detected in 6 out of 439 (1.4%) blood samples. Of these, four were from beef and two from dairy cattle. No significant differences were found according to age (P = 0.642) and production type (P = 0.802) among the B. theileri-positive cattle. Phylogenetic analysis showed clustering of the cattle-derived isolate together with B. theileri amplified from ixodid ticks, supporting a potential transmission cycle involving cattle and Rhipicephalus spp. ticks. Theileria annulata and Babesia bigemina DNA was detected in 11 (4.1%) and one (0.4%) of 268 unvaccinated cattle, respectively. Co-infection with Theileria annulata was found in one beef and one dairy cattle.

conclusionsTick-borne relapsing fever is present in the cattle population of Israel. Co-infection of B. theileri and bovine piroplasmids may drive clinical disease and financial losses in beef and dairy cattle. This is the first report of B. theileri infection in Israel. Future control programs should address the exposure of both beef and dairy cattle to ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Indexed as

BabesiosisBorreliaBorrelia InfectionsCattle DiseasesCoinfectionRelapsing FeverAnimalsBabesiaCattleDNA, ProtozoanFemaleIsraelPhylogenyPolymerase Chain ReactionDNA, ProtozoanBorrelia theileriBovine borreliosisBovine piroplasmosisTick-borne relapsing fever

Identifiers

PMID42337585
PMCPMC13450520

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.