Investigation of microscopic and molecular prevalence ofblood parasites in wrestling camels in Turkey

Objective: This study was conducted with the aim of detecting blood parasites in wrestling camels, predominantly found in the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Marmara regions of Turkey, using microscopic and molecular methods, and determining their prevalence. Material and Methods: For the study, a total of 90 blood samples were obtained from wrestling camels as a result of fieldwork conducted between November 2021 and December 2023. These samples were collected from Aydın (26), Antalya (24), Çanakkale (13), Denizli (8), İzmir (6), Balıkesir (5), Muğla (4), and Manisa (4). The analysis of the obtained samples was carried out microscopically under a light microscope and molecularly using the PCR method. Results: As a result of the examination of blood preparations stained with the Giemsa method under a light microscope and the PCR test conducted for the detection of the DNA presence of the causative agents, no disease agents of Trypanosoma, Theileria, Babesia, and Anaplasma species were detected. Conclusion: In this study, no evidence of the presence of Trypanosoma, Babesia, Theileria, and Anaplasma species was found in the samples obtained from wrestling camels in the regions of Aydın, Antalya, Balıkesir, Çanakkale, Denizli, İzmir, Manisa, and Muğla, where wrestling camels are found in Turkey. Key Words: Blood parasites, Microscopy, Polymerase chain reaction, Wrestling camels.