PCR-Based Detection ofBabesia ovisinRhipicephalus bursaand Small Ruminants

摘要

This study aimed to assess the prevalence ofBabesia ovisinfection in adultRhipicephalus bursaand small ruminants in West Azerbaijan province, Iran. Blood samples were collected from 280 sheep and 122 goats of forty randomly selected flocks. SpecificB. ovisfragment was detected in 67 animals (16.7%), of which 52 animals (18.6%) were sheep and 15 animals (12.2%) goats (P<0.05). Of the 848R. bursacollected from naturally infested small ruminants and farm dogs,Babesia oviswas detected by PCR in salivary glands of 94 adult ticks. The frequency ofB. ovisinfection was higher in flocks with tick in comparison with animals without tick (P<0.05). Positive amplification from blood of ruminants, ticks, oviposition ticks, eggs, and larvae was subjected to restriction digestion withHphI. One RFLP profile was produced. The PCR-RFLP results indicated that one strain ofB. ovisexists in this area. The results showed that the PCR was useful method to investigate the epidemiology of small ruminants’ babesiosis. Furthermore,R. Bursa, which can transovarially transmitB. ovisand as well as being widely distributed in West Azerbaijan province, Iran, might play an important role in the field as a natural vector ofB. ovis.