Morphological and molecular recognition of Lipoptena spp flies in dogs and detection of blood protozoa which transmit by these flies in Mosul city

Lipoptena cervi is intrusive hematophagous insects, which reside on the animals of family Cervidae and other types of animals in many countries around the world. 17 Dogs, 12 females (70.6 %) and 5 males (29.4 %) were examined from Badush dam area for presence of the deer ked flies L. cervi, the DNA of these flies were extracted, purified, and subjected to molecular analysis, all dogs have infested with these flies, and the genetic profile of these hematophagous ectoparasites have not been considered in Iraq to date. Studies flies were compatible 100% to isolates from Poland, Lithuania, and Czech Republic at the molecular level, and of this kind inquiry contributes to the establishment of basic cognizance on the dispensation, genetic structure, and the variability of deer ked fly L. cervi, which confirms the result of the morphological specification according to the dichotomous taxonomic key, with chaetotaxy key. An accurate microscopical diagnosis of thin and thick blood smears requires convenient method of staining with Giemsa stain made us infer the existence of subgenus of Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) in two forms of two dogs’ blood samples only, there may be a role for flies L. cervi as a biological vector for subgenus Megatrypanum.