Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia ovis in sheep in Siirt, Türkiye: relationship with some oxidant/antioxidant parameters

Abstract

The Babesia genus includes tick-borne haemoprotozoan parasites that infect a wide variety of vertebrate hosts, both domestic and wild, around the world. Babesia spp. cause oxidative stress by increasing the number of free radicals in erythrocytes. Among this genus, Babesia ovis causes babesiosis in sheep and goats, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, causing significant economic losses. In this study, we aimed to determine the presence and prevalence of B. ovis in sheep in Siirt province, T & uuml;rkiye, using molecular method and to evaluate some oxidant/ antioxidant parameters in infected sheep. The animal material used in this study consisted of a total of 500 sheep. DNA extraction, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification and sequence analysis of blood samples and Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) analysis of serum samples were performed. As a result of the study, 84 of the 500 samples (16.80%) examined were PCR positive. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were found to be higher in sheep with babesiosis compared to the control group. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was higher in the control group and catalase (CAT) activity was higher in infected sheep. As a result of this study, the presence of Babesia ovis was detected in all districts of Siirt province. It has been determined that infection caused by Babesia ovis in sheep causes oxidative stress as a result of increased nitric oxide and oxidized protein levels and this process may participate in the pathology of the disease.