Molecular Epidemiology of Babesia and Theileria Species in Sheep in Kars Region of Turkey

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate Babesia and Theileria species and vector ticks in sheep in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. Methods: Blood samples were collected from 960 sheep, and ticks were collected from the same animals between January and December 2017. The reverse line blotting (RLB) method was used to analyze Babesia and Theileria piroplasm DNAs. Ticks and tick egg clusters were evaluated in terms of Babesia and Theileria species using the RLB technique. Results: Microscopically, 3.96% (38/960) of Theileria spp. piroplasm forms were identified; however, no Babesia spp. piroplasm forms were identified. The distribution of Babesia and Theileria spp. by RLB was 35.52% (341/960). The species identified included Theileria ovis (24.79%, 238/960), Theileria sp. (6.15%, 59/960), Theileria sp. OT3 (4.27%, 41/960), and Babesia ovis (0.31%, 3/960). Tick infestation was found in 17.5% (168/960) of the sheep. Dermacentor marginatus (66.31%), Haemaphysalis parva (32.73%), Hae. punctata (0.21%), Rhipicephalus bursa (0.53%), and Hyalomma marginatum (0.11%) were identified in the infected sheep. No pathogenic species were found in the analysis of egg clusters or tick carcasses according to the RLB method. Conclusion: Theileria ovis is the theileriosis agent in sheep in the study region. Species commonly detected in tick-infested sheep were D. marginatus and Hae. parva.

Molecular characterization of black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in areas with pest outbreaks and simuliotoxicosis in Northeast Anatolia Region, Turkey.

Accurate species identification provides the foundation for successful pest management and vector control of black flies. Accordingly, we examined the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequences of four morphologically and chromosomally identified species of black flies (Simulium vernumgroup sp., S. bergi Rubtsov, S. bezzii (Corti), and S. kiritshenkoi Rubtsov) in Northeast Anatolia Region of Turkey where simuliid pest problems and simuliotoxicosis cases have been reported among cattle. COI gene sequences of these species and closely related species available in GenBank were used to provide species-level diagnoses and infer relationships. Both subgenera (Nevermannia and Simulium) were monophyletic, and subclades generally corresponded with species groups. Intraspecific genetic divergence was 0.2-1.6%, whereas the mean interspecific genetic divergence among the four species was 11.2-14.5%. The COI analysis produced results congruent with morphological concepts of the nominal species S. bergi and S. bezzii. Probable misidentifications in GenBank were revealed, especially for species in the S. ornatum and S. vernum groups, complicating identification capability. Sequence variation in the COI barcode region also might not be adequate for species delineation and identification among some species in these two species groups.