Molecular Characterization of Babesia ovis Isolated from Sheep in Van Province, Turkey

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Published: May 15, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.37484
Keywords:
sheep Babesia ovis PCR 18S rRNA molecular diagnosis Turkey
AS Karakus
Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Zeve Campus, Van-Turkey
İ Tanrikuli
Van Provincial Health Directorate Provincial Ambulance Service, Van-Turkey
Abstract

Babesia ovis, küçükbaş hayvanları enfekte eden, ateş, anemi, hemoglobinüri, iştah kaybı ve akut vakalarda ölüme neden olan, kene kaynaklı bir protozoan parazittir. Tropikal ve subtropikal bölgelerde yaygın olan parazit, koyun sürülerini enfekte etmesi nedeniyle endüstri üzerinde ekonomik bir etkiye sahiptir ve bu nedenle teşhis ve hastalığın ortadan kaldırılması için hassas yöntemler gerektirir. Türkiye'de koyun ve keçilerin kene kaynaklı patojenleri geniş çapta araştırılmış olmasına rağmen moleküler yöntemlerle teşhis halen sınırlıdır. Bu çalışmada Van ili koyunlarında kene kaynaklı patojen bir enfeksiyon olan Babesia ovis'in moleküler yöntem kullanılarak teşhis edilmesi amaçlandı . Bu amaçla Van ilinde Mayıs-Ekim 2021 tarihleri ​​arasında çok sayıda koyundan kan örnekleri alındı. 66'sı klinik olarak enfektif, 89'u rastgele seçilmiş 155 koyunun periferik damarlarından kan örnekleri EDTA'lı tüplere toplanarak -20°C'de saklandı. Analiz edilene kadar °C. Bu kan örnekleri Giemsa boyama yöntemiyle incelendi. Analiz edilen kan yaymalarından yedisi (%4,51) Babesia spp. piroplazma formları belirlendi. Daha sonra Babesia ovis'e spesifik primerler kullanılarak PCR ile 21 amplikondan (%13,54) 549 bp'lik 18S rRNA fragmanları elde edildi . Sonuçları doğrulamak için dört amplikon için dizi analizi yapıldı ve bunlar GenBank'ta ON137543.1, ON139020.1, ON139021.1 ve ON139024.1 erişim numaraları altında kaydedildi. Bu moleküler araştırma ile organizmaların karakterizasyonu için mikroskobik incelemenin yeterli olmadığı kanıtlanmış olup , bu tür parazitlerin Van'daki yaygınlığı konusunda daha kapsamlı moleküler parazitolojik çalışmalara ihtiyaç olduğu ortaya çıkmıştır.

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