Molecular characterization of ticks and tick-borne piroplasms from cattle and camel in Hofuf, eastern Saudi Arabia.

The aims of the present study were to characterize ticks infesting the dromedary camel and cattle in Hofuf, Eastern Saudi Arabia and to determine the piroplasms that they may harbor. DNA was extracted from ticks, collected from camels and cattle, using commercial kits and subjected to polymerase chain reaction using specific primers for the amplification of ticks and piroplasms DNA. The cytochrome oxidase subunit I mitochondrial gene () was used for characterization of ticks whereas partial 18S rRNA gene () was used for piroplasms characterization. Ticks were genetically identified as and . Both cattle and camel in Hofuf, were found to be infested with both species. Both ticks identified as and from camels and cows showed 100% identity to sequences from the same species available in GenBank. Only DNA was amplified from both and . infesting cattle. None of the ticks collected from camels revealed DNA of piroplasms. DNA was reported for the first time from Hofuf and the role of both as potential vectors for this parasite in cattle in Saudi Arabia has been documented for the first time.