Evaluation of the prevalence of Theileria annulata, Babesia and Anaplasma in cattle Alborz province by direct examination and PCR

Background and Aim : Babesia and Theileria are intraerythrocytic parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa which infect wild and domestic animals. Detection of these pathogens is important in an epidemiological study. In spite of the existence of these pathogens in Iran, little study has been done up to now. So, the aim of this study was the evaluation of the prevalence of Theileria, Anaplasma and Babesia and in cattle Alborz province using the conventional and molecular method.Methods : A total of ۱۳۰ cattle were taken blood samples and transported to the laboratory immediately. Then the blood smears were observed with Giemsa staining. Positive samples were confirmed using PCR. So, DNA of blood was extracted using the phenol-chloroform method and performed PCR using specific primers of Tams۱ and ۱۸SrRNA genes for confirmation of Theileria and Anaplasma respectively. Vaccine strain of bovine theileriosis and the sterile buffer was used as a positive and negative control, respectively.Results : The result showed the Theileria and Anaplasma infection in ۷ (۵.۳۸%) and ۵ (۳.۸۵%) of blood smears respectively. Also, one blood sample simultaneous has been infected by Anaplasma and Theileria. But there is no case of infection with Babesia. Based on the PCR assays, all of the ۱۱ blood samples showed the predicted PCR fragments sizes for Theileria and Anaplasma in presence of the two primer pairs, ۸۷۱ and ۵۷۷bp for Tams۱ and ۱۸SrRNA respectively.Conclusion : Based on the results, T.annulata and Anaplasma have been found in cattle of Alborz province. But no cases of Babesia have been observed in cattle.

کلیدواژه ها:

PCR ، Theileria annulata ، Babesia ، Anaplasma ، Alborz ، cattle