Molecular detection of haemotropic mycoplasma infection in sheep

Abstract

This study was the first report about hemotropic mycoplasmoses in sheep at middle of Iraq as well as the first trail to investigate this infection among ticks .EDTA blood samples were collected from four hundred ( 400 ) Awassi sheep during February –July \2016 ,two hundard ( 200) of sheep clinicallyhad signs of anemia ,weakness ( infected group )and another 200 sheep that clinically healthy( healthy group ) ,all examined sheep were ranked according to gender( male and female ) and to age periods ( less than and more than one year ) and each sub group included 100 sheep , that tested by PCR assay by using specific Mycoplasma ovis primer with 1341 bp that detect infection rates 17.5% which significantly higher in infected group 25.5% than healthy group 7.5% and the yearling sheep was more susceptible to infection 22.5% than adult 12.5% and the infection was higher in female 20.4% than in male 14.5% , the Mycoplasma ovis infection was recorded with higher percentage in July 24.7% while no infection in February will be showed .
All blood samples of positivity infected sheep (70 ) were submitted into blood indices analysis which exhibited significant reduction in all blood parameters ( RBCs ,Hb ,PCV ,MCH ,MCHC, platelets ) when compare with group of negativity PCR healthy sheep as control group .
The trail to investigate about Mycoplasma ovis in (40) ticks picked up from examined sheep from tail and ear sites with standard parasitological methods by using the same primer of Mycoplasma ovis by PCR , this technique was gave negative result .
The conclusion include Mycoplasma ovis infection was registered in Awassi sheep with increasable rate in emaciated ,anemic sheep and so in yearling ,female and warm months of year with haemolytic macrocytic anemia.