Paper Details

Molecular detection of Theileria ovis and T. lestoquardi in vector ticks in Lorestan province, Iran

Hoghooghi-Rad Nasser, Hashemi Saeed, Abdi Goudarzi Mohammad

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.12692/ijb/4.12.78-83

Int. J. Biosci. 4(12), 78-83. June, 2014. (PDF)

Abstract:

Ixodidae ticks are carriers of pathogenic protozoa such as Theileria and Babesia. Recognition of these ticks is essential in each area considering treatment strategies and epidemiological studies Therefore, 219 ticks were collected from 150 sheep suffering from fever and anemia in different parts of Lorestan province during April-August 2012. Also, thin blood films were prepared from the peripheral blood of these animals. DNA of the tick salivary glands including 152 Rhipicephalus sanguineuses, 13 R.bursas and 54 Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicums was extracted. Then, PCR was performed using a pair of 520 bp specific primers of SSurRNA gene of Theileria ovis for the amplification of 785bp of T.lestoquardi merozoite surface antigens. PCR revealed that 37 out of 152 R. sanguineus (24/34%) were positive for T.ovis whereas none of R.bursas was positive. Also, 5 out of 54 H.a anatolicums (9.25%) were positive for T. lestoquardi. The microscopic examinations of blood smears showed that 19 out of 150 blood smears (12.66%) contained the piroplasmic forms of Theileria spcies. Regarding the vast distribution of R.sanguineus in the area, it seems that this tick may be the main vector of T. ovis in Lorestan.