Title of article :
Molecular Identification of Neospora caninum Infection in Aborted Fetuses of Sheep, Cattle, and Goats in Mazandaran Province, Northern Iran
Author/Authors :
Salehi, Behnaz Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari , Amouei, Afsaneh Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari , Dodangeh, Samira Medical Microbiology Research Center - Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin , Daryani, Ahmad Toxoplasmosis Research Center - Communicable Diseases Institute - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari , Sarvi, Shahabeddin Toxoplasmosis Research Center - Communicable Diseases Institute - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari , Safari-Kharyeki, Mohammad Reza Mahdasht Dairy and Meat Company, Panbe Choleh, Sari , Salehi, Saeid Mazandaran Provincial Veterinary Department of Medical Sciences, Sari , Hosseini, Abdollah Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari , Hosseininejad, Zahra Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari
Abstract :
Background: We aimed to identify Neospora caninum DNA in the brain samples of
aborted fetuses of cattle, goats, and sheep in Mazandaran, northern Iran, using PCR.
Methods: In total, 133 aborted fetuses (51 sheep, 78 cattle, and 4 goats) were randomly
collected from different stages of gestation in various regions of Mazandaran,
Iran, from Mar 2016 to May 2017. The DNA was extracted from all the brain samples
using phenol chloroform isoamyl alcohol instructions. The Nc-5 gene was used
for the detection of N. caninum DNA by nested-PCR assay.
Results: The detection of N. caninum DNA was confirmed by the observation of a
227 bp band in 24 samples of 133 aborted fetuses (18.1%). The highest prevalence
rate of N. caninum was detected in the cattle (20.5%) followed by the sheep (15.6%);
however, no positive cases were reported in the goats. The highest and lowest prevalence
rates of the infection were reported as 23.8% and 8.6% in Qaemshahr, and
Behshahr, respectively. The prevalence rate of infection (32%) in the early gestational
period was higher than those in the middle (15%) and late (3.8%) gestational periods.
Conclusion: The obtained data of the present study indicated that N. caninum infection
may partly be responsible for abortion and economic loss in livestock farming in
Mazandaran Province.
Keywords :
Neospora caninum , Ruminants’ aborted fetuses , Nested-PCR , Iran
