Polymerase chain reaction based detection of haemoprotozoan parasites of sheep in Karnataka

The increase in prevalence of tick borne parasitic diseases and their economic impact on livestock production have given way for better diagnostic tools and treatment. This study was conducted to study the prevalence and its diagnosis of haemoprotozoan parasites from sheep blood. During this study, in organised farms out of 85 sheep blood samples examined by microscopy, about 14 blood samples (16.4%) were found positive only for Theileria by Giemsa stain. Whereas in unorganised farms the prevalence rate of Theileriosis was 64 percent by geimsa staining method. Later by molecular detection, in organised farms by semi nested and nested PCR about 24.7 percent of blood samples was amplified for T. luwenshunii at 288 bp and 4.7% amplified for T. ovis at 237 bp whereas in unorganised farms 72 percent of blood samples were positive for T. luwenshunii, 19 percent positive for T. ovis. About 4 percent was positive for Babesia ovisby conventional PCR.