Індикація та видова диференціація найпростіших роду Babesia за методом ПЛР у кліщах, знятих з тварин

Abstract

The article presents the study results on the indication and species differentiation of the Babesia genus protozoa in the organism of ticks taken off dogs and cattle. Diagnostic tests were performed using a multiplex PCR test system, being a self-engineering product, which allows to determine the DNA presence of 6 Babesia genus species in any biological samples, namely: B. canis, B. divergens, B. caballi, B. major, B Bigemina, B. bovis, three of them being species-specific, by the bands’ size at the amplification products’ electrophoregrams. The above test system contains 2 direct and 3 reverse primers flanking the DNA fragments of the gene encoding the 18S rRNA of the Babesia genus protozoa.The subject of the study were ticks obtained from 17 dogs of different breeds and sex-age status and 12 units of livestock (cattle). As a result, the babesial DNA was detected in 11 samples, eight of which were differentiated as Babesia canis, two as Babesia bovis and one as Babesia divergens. Based on the results obtained, the animals, whose ticks, taken off them, had babesia detected, one or another strategy was developed for treatment and prophylaxis measures.The approach suggested in the present article permits identifying the possible risks of babesia invasion at the earliest stages of the disease. Presence or absence of the Babesia genus protozoa in the body of sanguivorous ticks permits avoiding treatments rather toxic for the organism, or to carry out preventive therapy long before the babesiosis clinical symptoms’ manifestation. It is vitally important for pregnant females and especially sensitive to babesiosis dog breeds.The prospect of further research is development of the PCR test systems for indicating and differentiating other tick-borne infections and invasions.