Shahbazi Gholamreza1, Matin Somaieh2, Shahbazi Roya3, Babapour Alireza4, Adhami Ghazale5, Bageri Yasin6. 1. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran. 2. Department of Internal Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. 3. Department of Pathobiology, Tabriz University of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz, Iran. 4. Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran. 5. Department of Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Sanandaj, Iran. 6. Young Researchers and Elite Club, Tabriz Branch Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Babesia is an intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite which is transmitted by hard ticks of the Ixodidae family. One of the problems associated with protozoan infection is the determination and characterization of the vectors. The aim of the present study was to detect Babesia ovis in the salivary gland of Dermacentor spp. METHODS: A total of 200 adult Dermacentor ticks (139 D. niveus and 61 D. marginatus) were collected from sheep suspected to be infected with babesiosis in the Ardabil region of Iran from April to September 2015 (active season of ticks); and were identified using standard taxonomic keys. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from the salivary glands of ticks and analyzed with the primers derived from the hyper variable V4 region of 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (18S rRNA) of the Babesia species using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Babesia ovis was detected in 5.8% of the D. niveus and 3.3% of the D. marginatus positive samples in the second round of semi-nested PCR. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Based on the results obtained from this study, it is concluded that D. niveus and D. marginatus, which are distributed in Ardabil region of Iran, might play a major role in the transmission of infection as a natural vector of B. ovis.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES:Babesia is an intraerythrocytic protozoan parasite which is transmitted by hard ticks of the Ixodidae family. One of the problems associated with protozoan infection is the determination and characterization of the vectors. The aim of the present study was to detect Babesia ovis in the salivary gland of Dermacentor spp. METHODS: A total of 200 adult Dermacentor ticks (139 D. niveus and 61 D. marginatus) were collected from sheep suspected to be infected with babesiosis in the Ardabil region of Iran from April to September 2015 (active season of ticks); and were identified using standard taxonomic keys. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was isolated from the salivary glands of ticks and analyzed with the primers derived from the hyper variable V4 region of 18S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (18S rRNA) of the Babesia species using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS:Babesia ovis was detected in 5.8% of the D. niveus and 3.3% of the D. marginatus positive samples in the second round of semi-nested PCR. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Based on the results obtained from this study, it is concluded that D. niveus and D. marginatus, which are distributed in Ardabil region of Iran, might play a major role in the transmission of infection as a natural vector of B. ovis.