Molecular Detection of Babesia ovis in Sheep and Goats from Robat Karim, Tehran Province, Iran: Evidence of Sheep as the Primary Reservoir

Background: Babesia ovis is an intra-erythrocytic hemoparasite parasite transmitted by ticks and causes ovine babesiosis. Babesia ovis causes economic loss in small ruminants by decreasing their productivity and causing anemia. Even though Iran is known to have B. ovis, information related to species-specific prevalence in sheep and goats is poorly documented. Among other detection techniques, nesting-typed PCR is more commonly used for molecular detection of B. ovis and its prevalence in infected hosts. This is the first step towards the development of robust control measures aimed at hosts in endemic areas. Methods: In a study done in ۲۰۲۳-۲۰۲۴, blood samples were taken from ۳۶۷ sheep and ۳۶۷ goats in Robat Karim, Tehran Province, Iran. DNA was pulled out and checked for B. ovis using nest PCR aimed at the ۱۸S rRNA gene. The first round of PCR used primers Bo۹۲F/Bo۹۲R, after that there was a second round with inside primers Bo۹۲nF/Bo۹۲nR. PCR products were shown on ۱ ۵% agarose gel with ۲۵۶ bp amplicon showing positive result. Some samples were sequenced to check for species identity. Results: Overall, ۷۹ of ۷۳۴ animals (۱۰.۸%) tested positive for B. ovis, with prevalence significantly higher in sheep (۱۳.۹%; ۵۱/۳۶۷) than in goats (۷.۶%; ۲۸/۳۶۷) (p < ۰.۰۵). All positive samples produced the expected ۲۵۶ bp amplicon, and sequencing confirmed ۱۰۰% identity with reference B. ovis sequences in GenBank. These findings indicate that sheep act as the primary reservoir host, playing a central role in maintaining parasite transmission within small ruminant populations. Conclusion: In Robat Karim, Tehran Province, B. ovis is primarily maintained by sheep. This highlights the need for continued integrated tick control as well as ongoing molecular surveillance in small ruminant herds.

کلیدواژه ها:

Babesia ovis ، Goat ، Sheep ، Tehran