Research of theileria and babesia species in ruminantia of Burdur province by reverse line blot hybridisation technique

The aim of the present study is; to research the presence, prevalence and possible cross infections between cattle, sheep and goats for Theileria and Babesia species in Burdur province which is one of the most important cities of Turkey for animal production, by reverse line blot hybridisation tecnique. These parasites are responsible for important diseases and economic loses. In the present study, RLB is choosen as a research tecnique because it allows rapid, simultaneous detection and differentiation of different piroplasms infecting a given animal. For this purpose; firstly the herds of cattle, sheep and goats was choosen which are grazing in the same or neighboring pasture, so they would probably be exposed to same tick species infestations from Ağlasun, Bucak, Gölhisar, Merkez and Yeşilova districts of Burdur. Then totally 964 blood samples collected from 334 cattle, 330 sheep and 300 goats from those herds in September and October of 2015 year. After isolation of DNA from those blood samples, RLB-F2 and RLB-R2 (biotin labelled) primers used for amplification of 460-540 bp hypervariable region 4 (V4 region) of the 18s small subunit ribosomal RNA gene of Theileria/Babesia spp. by PCR assay. Then all PCR products of those samples were investigated for Theileria/Babesia spp. by RLB assay. As a result; 46,3 % (153/330) T. ovis, 32,1 % (106/330) T. ovis + Babesia spp., 0,6 % (2/330) Bm3 (B. crassa/B. sp. China/B. motasi) + BcG (B. crassa Turkey/ B. crassa Iran), 0,6 % (2/330) T. ovis + Bm3, 0,3 % (1/330) Babesia spp., 0,3 % (1/330) T. ovis + Bm3 + BcG, 0,3 % (1/330) T. ovis + Bm3 + Bcİ (B. crassa Iran) infections found in sheeps samples and 64 of 330 (19,4 %) sheep samples were found negative. So, the prevalence of T. ovis in sheep was found to be 79,69 % regardless of single or mixed infection. In goat samples; 11 % (33/300) Bm3, 3,3 % (10/300) Babesia spp., 1 % (3/300) Theileria/Babesia spp., 0,6 % (2/300) B. ovis, 0,3 % (1/300) T. ovis infections found and 62,4 % (206/300) of the samples seems to be negative. In invastigated cattle samples; 3,3 % (11/334) B. bovis, 3,3 % (11/334) Babesia spp., 0,3 % (1/334) T. annulata, 0,3 % (1/334) T. annulata + Babesia spp. infections found and 310 of 334 cattle samples (92,8 %) were observed as negative. The prevalence of T. annulata was found to be 0,6 % regardless of whether it was a single or mixed infection. Sheep samples were found; 46,6 % (154/330) by single, 33,3 % (110/330) by two and 0,6 % (2/330) by three species infected. Goat samples were found; 16,3 % (49/300) by single species infected. And cattle samples were found; 6,9 % (23/334) by single and 0,3 % (1/334) by two species infected. According to present data it seems that; no cross Theileria/Babesia infections found between cattle, sheep and goat samples. As a result of present study; actual data obtained about presence and prevalence of Theileria and Babesia species in cattle, sheep and goats in Burdur province. It is believed that those data would be helpful to understand of parasite fauna in this province and would keep light for the similar future investigations in this or other provinces. Also it has been approved that; meeting and conversation with cattle, sheep and goat breeders and veterinaries about those parasites, their prevalence and to warn them about animal movements, pasture management and systematically fight against ticks is absolutely necessary for the future of animal production. Keywords: Theileria/Babesia, ruminantia, RLB, Burdur