Molecular study of Babesia spp and Theileria spp in camels of AlDiwaniyah province in Iraq

Abstract EN

Because of the economic importance of the camels and the scarcity of studies related to it in Iraq, our study aimed to investigate Babesia spp and Theileria spp by molecular methods.

The current study was conducted during the period from September 2017 to March 2018 and collected 200 random blood samples from camels included (125 females and 75 males and two groups of ages )150(>1 years) and 50)<1year ( some of them appear on it clinical signs and some did not show any symptoms from the slaughterhouse of Al- Diwaniya province.

This study was designed to diagnose these parasites firstly by microscopic examination by Geimesa stain method .The results each of (106/200)(53%) Babesia spp and (93/200)(46.5%) Theileria spp.

The prevalence of Babesiosis in the female (76/125)(60.8%) more than in the males (30/75)(40%) and in different ages.

Theileriosis also recorded the prevalence in female (69/125)(55.2%) and in males (24/75)(32%) and in different ages.

The highest incidence in months (September, October and March) (88.3%, 96.2% and 75%), respectively, according to the study time.

recorded mix infection 19(23.75%) between Babesia &Theileria then diagnosis 90 blood samples positive microscopically using molecular techniques, which included (conventional PCR monoplex and multiplex) 16 (17.77%), 9(10%), 8(8.9%) and 11(12.22) Theileria spp , Theileria annulata, Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina respectively .