Open AccessPrevalence and Phylogenetic Analysis of Babesia ovis Isolated from Sheep and Goats in Erbil Province, Kurdistan Region- Iraq
Author(s) -
Zuber I. Hassan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
polytechnic/polytechnic (erbil. online)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2707-7799
pISSN - 2313-5727
DOI - 10.25156/ptj.v10n2y2020.pp98-104
Subject(s) - ovis , babesiosis , veterinary medicine , parasite hosting , biology , babesia , phylogenetic tree , venipuncture , 18s ribosomal rna , pathogen , blood smear , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , malaria , gene , immunology , medicine , genetics , anesthesia , world wide web , computer science
A total of 143 blood smears were obtained from sheep and goats (n = 98) and (n = 45), respectively, by jugular venipuncture between February 2019 and December 2019. Samples were examined for parasite occurrences. Results reveal that the prevalence of infection by the parasite was 12.24% and 11.11%, respectively (microscopically), while 20.41% sheep and 17.78% goats (molecular-based identification using 18S SSU rRNA sequence). Both methods revealed the specificity and sensitivity of the diagnostic assays. Phylogenetic analysis of Babesia ovis (MN309736-MN309745) displays that the pathogens identified in this study are clustered together, which indicating similar molecular characteristics. Overall, these results provide a better understanding that Babesiosis is highly prevalent in the study area and continuous monitoring of tick-borne pathogen in sheep and goats are essentially required in Erbil Province.