Comparative study between microscopic and PCR analysis in apopulation of piroplasm carrier sheep in five region ofkhoramabad, Iran

In the present study the rate of Theileria and Babesia spp. infection of sheep housing in Khoramabad, Iran was determined by using PCR technique and traditional giemsa staining method. DNA was extracted from blood samples that collected from 100 sheep from five regions of Khoramabad and amplified by using specific primers derived from 18S rRNA gene of the mentioned piroplasms by PCR technique and subsequently analyzed on agarose gel using ethidium bromide under UV condition. Additionally, the prepared blood smears of each sheep were analyzed by Giemsa staining method. The results showed that structures assembling the mentioned piroplasms were detectable in 15 blood smears. Twelve of them were determined as Theileria spp. and the remaining three as Babesia spp. The PCR results showed that 28 samples were positive. The PCR product specific for Theileria spp. amplified in 22 samples (22%). Babesia spp. were detected in 6 blood samples (6%). The apparent agreement between two tests was 81%. When PCR technique is considered as golden standard method, the sensitivity and specificity of the other method were measured as 42% and 95.8%, respectively.