title: Molecular identification, genetic diversity and distribution of Theileria and Babesia species infecting small ruminants.
abstract: Detection and identification of Theileria and Babesia species in 920 apparently healthy small ruminants in eastern Turkey, as well as parasite genetic diversity, was investigated using a specifically designed reverse line blot (RLB) assay. The hypervariable V4 region of the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene was amplified and hybridized to a membrane onto which catchall and species-specific oligonucleotide probes were covalently linked. Three Theileria and one Babesia genotype were identified. Comparison of the Theileria genotypes revealed 93.6-96.2% similarity among their 18S rRNA genes. Two Theileria shared 100% and 99.7% similarity with the previously described sequences of T. ovis and Theileria sp. OT3, respectively. A third Theileria genotype was found to be clearly different from previously described Theileria species. The genotype was provisionally designated as Theileria sp. MK. The Babesia genotype shared 100% similarity with Babesia ovis. The survey indicated a high prevalence of piroplasm infections in small ruminants (38.36%). Theileria spp. prevalence was 36.08%. Prevalence of B. ovis was 5.43%. The most abundant Theileria species identified was T. ovis (34.56%) followed by Theileia sp. MK (1.30%) and Theileria sp. OT3 (0.43%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, 23119 Elazig, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kursat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Altay
authors.forename: Nazir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dumanli
authors.forename: Munir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aktas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000235:genetics*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006041:Goats; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D015995:Prevalence; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016794:Theileria / Q000235:genetics*; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology