# Novel Theileria sp. as an Etiology of Cutaneous Theileriosis among the Vulnerable Arabian Oryx

## TL;DR

A new species of Theileria parasite was found to cause skin disease in Arabian oryx, highlighting the need for more research on tick-borne diseases in this vulnerable species.

## Contribution

Identification of a novel Theileria species associated with cutaneous theileriosis in Arabian oryx.

## Key findings

- Microscopic and molecular analysis confirmed theileriosis in Arabian oryx.
- A novel Theileria sp. was identified that does not cluster with known antelope Theileria sequences.
- The study highlights the lack of data on tick-borne pathogens in Qatar.

## Abstract

The Arabian Peninsula’s endemic ungulate, Oryx leucoryx, was on the verge of extinction at the end of the 1970s. Despite the different reintroduction programs, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is still classifying it as Vulnerable. Among other factors, their vulnerability lies in their susceptibility to specific etiological agents that affect livestock, necessitating health monitoring and strict preventive/biosecurity measures. Within this frame, the current work investigated the determination of the etiological agent potentially involved with cutaneous lesions observed in eight males of Arabian oryx within one of the several national governance conservation programs. Microscopic examination from one animal specimen suggested theileriosis association, which was confirmed by molecular tools using 18S gene sequencing and the report of a novel Theileria sp. not clustering with previously reported antelope sequences. This finding prompts further explorations into the disease dynamics within the Arabian oryx population, especially with the scarcity of data in Qatar about tick-borne pathogens and their transmission.