Evaluation of molecular technique and microscopical examination for diagnosis of blood parasites in equine and camels

Abstract EN

This study was designed to evaluate PCR technique as a diagnostic tool for blood parasites infection in equine and camels in relation to conventional microscopic examination of stained blood smear.

150 equine stained blood smears were examined microscopically, 15 of them were suspected to be infested with equine piroplasmosis.

10 samples (including one positive by blood film) were examined by conventional PCR technique, 7 samples were positive.

135 camels stained blood smears were examined microscopically, 2 of them were infested with trypanosoma, and 10, 5 and 15 samples were suspected to be infested with theileria spp., babesia spp.

and anaplasma spp., respectively.

10 samples (including 2 positive for trypanosoma), 10 negative for theileria, 10 negative for babesia and 10 negative for anaplasma by blood film were examined separately by conventional PCR technique, 9, 1, 1 and 5 samples were positive, respectively.

The results concluded that PCR assays are more sensitive than blood film examination.