Investigation of infection rate and determination of Babesia species in infected hard ticks in East azarbaijan province in 1399

Abstract

Babesiosis as one of the common diseases between humans and animals causes a lot of damage to animal husbandry and health all over the world every year. Babesia species infecting animals are B. ovis, B. motsi and B. crassa in sheep and B. bovis, B. bigemina, B. divergens and B. major in cattle. In this study, the rate of infection and determination of Babesia species in severely infected ticks isolated from sheep in East Azerbaijan province in 2019 was investigated. Methods: During the spring and summer of 2017-2018, 289 ticks were collected from different animals including cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, horses, chickens, residential houses and even human bodies from the surrounding villages of East Azerbaijan province, and finally 80 ticks isolated from sheep were selected. Following the DNA extraction from the ticks, the Nested PCR method targeting the 18sRNA gene was used to determine the species of B. ovis and B. mutasi. To confirm the species of Babesia and the taxonomic position of PCR products, they were sequenced. Results: 6 out of 80 ticks (7.6%) were identified using the Semi-Nested PCR method and B. ovis-specific primers in the 186 bp fragment. However, no contamination was detected using B. mutasi-specific primers. Out of 6 ticks infected with B. ovis, 3 cases were related to Dermacentor marginatus in Maragheh and 3 cases were related to Haemaphisalis sulcata in Shabstar. The sequencing and phylogenetic tree showed that Babesia isolates are located in the specific category of B. Ovis.