Molecular prevalence of in sheep from Iraq.

BACKGROUND

Tick-borne diseases are widely distributed among animal populations and are responsible for significant economic losses. However, little attention has been offered for screening such infections world widely. is among those neglected tick-borne pathogens, particularly in the developing countries.

AIM

This study was conducted to detect infection among sheep in three governorates of Iraq (Babylon, Wasit, and Missan) and try to identify the potential tick vector responsible for transmission among sheep in these analyzed regions.

METHODS

A total of 297 blood samples and 103 ticks were collected and examined for by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers amplifying partial sequence for gene.

RESULTS

The results showed that about 14 out of 297 tested sheep were positive for . There was no difference between prevalence according to animal gender, age, and sampling period. Furthermore, our analysis showed that the main vectors of : , , or were not identified in three regions of Iraq (, , and were identified).

CONCLUSION

These results highlight the importance of the survey of the tick-borne bacterial infections in Iraq and in the Middle East region in general.