Browsing by Author "Khamesipour, Faham"

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Determination of the presence of babesia DNA in blood samples of cattle, camel and sheep in Iran by PCR
(Belgrade, 2014-10-13) Khamesipour, Faham; Doosti, Abbas; Koohi, Arman; Chehelgerdi, Mohammad; Mokhtari-Farsani, Abbas; Chengula, Augustino Alfred
Babesia species are protozoan parasites that parasitize the erythrocytes of domestic animals and humans, caus- ing anemia in the host affected. These parasites cause a zoonotic disease known as babesiosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has proven to be very sensitive for detecting Babesia in blood samples of affected animals, particular in ruminants. The purpose of the current study was to determine the presence of Babesia DNA in the blood samples obtained from cattle, camel and sheep in Iran. In addition, the study aimed at establishing a rapid, reliable, specific and sensitive molecular tool, the PCR, for the detection of Babesia DNA in ruminants and dromedaries. Blood samples were collected from 372 rumi- nants and dromedaries (155 cattle, 95 sheep and 122 camel) kept at the Livestock Experimental Station. The animals came from randomly selected herds located in the important livestock-production regions of Iran of Isfahan and Chaharmahal va Bakhtiary during December 2012 to March 2013. PCR was used to detect Babesia DNA in the blood samples whereby an amplified band size of 428 bp was considered positive for Babesia spp. The results indicated that 7.10% (n= 155), 6.56% (n= 122) and 0.00% (n= 95) of the blood samples from cattle, camel and sheep were positive for Babesia DNA, respectively. The findings from this study revealed that there were Babesia DNA in blood taken from cattle and camel. To our knowl- edge, this is the first report to show the presence of Babesia DNA in blood samples of Iranian ruminants and dromedaries in Chaharmahal Va Bakhtiari and Isfahan provinces by PCR method. Though, diagnosis of low-level infections by the pa- rasite is important for the epidemiological studies. Our findings support the power of PCR test for Babesia DNA detection in blood samples and could be easily used for routine diagnosis.
Toxoplasma gondii in cattle, camels and sheep in Isfahan and Chaharmahal va bakhtiary provinces, Iran
(Jundishapur Journal of Microbiology, 2014) Khamesipour, Faham; Doosti, Abbas; Mobarakeh, Hamid Iranpour; Komba, Erick V.G.
Background: Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite, which is assumed to have cosmopolitan distribution. Objectives: Adopting a cross-sectional study design the current research aimed to determine the occurrence of the parasite in cattle, camels and sheep in Isfahan and Chaharmahal va Bakhtiary provinces of Iran. Materials and Methods: Animals in the field and those brought for slaughter at abattoirs were included. Blood samples were randomly collected from animals and investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: T. gondii infections were detected in 0.00%, 6.60% and 17.9% of the sample cattle (n = 155), camels (n = 122) and sheep (n = 95) respectively. Sheep were more frequently affected in Chaharmahal va Bakhtiary (33.33%) compared to Isfahan (8.47%) (P = 0.005, 95%; CI = 6.88-43.35). No statistically significant difference was observed in infection prevalence between camels and sheep; and between the different sex categories in both camels and sheep. Conclusions: Evidence of T. gondii occurrence in sheep and camels was provided in the provinces under study. There is a need to investigate the potential risk factors of zoonotic infections. Furthermore, animal health and production losses caused by the parasite; and associated zoonotic implications in the area under study need to be explored.