Molecular Determination of . Isolates from Domestic Ruminants Fecal Samples in the Northwest of Iran.

BACKGROUND

species are the main causes for fascioliasis with great financial losses and are among the most important food/water-borne parasites worldwide. The basic proceedings such as epidemiology and effective control of fascioliasis rely mainly on precise identification of species. The present study was conducted to determine the species in ruminant fecal samples from East Azerbaijan Province in Iran.

METHODS

Overall, 2012 fecal samples were collected and processed initially for microscopic examination of eggs in 2014-15. Then, recovered eggs were subjected to molecular identification. A fragment of 618 bp of the 28S rRNA gene pertaining to genus was amplified under PCR. The amplified fragment was restricted by fast digest II enzyme in order to a Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism.

RESULTS

Based on microscopic examination, 72 samples were infected, from which, 10 and 62 cases pertained to cattle and sheep samples respectively. Based on RFLP, the PCR products restricted by the II restriction enzyme produced 529 bp fragments only. According to the positive controls, all restriction patterns were related to , while no restriction patterns were linked to .

CONCLUSION

Based on PCR-RFLP, was dominant species in animals of the studied areas and no evidence of was observed. Therefore, further field studies to verify these results are suggested.