Molecular Detection and Identification of Piroplasm in Cattle from Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Background: Tick-borne protozoan parasites (TBPPs) cause significant problems for domestic animals’ health in Nepal. TBPPs are routinely diagnosed by labor-intensive blood smear microscopy. In Nepal, there some reports of Babesia and Theileria cattle, although species identification is rarely performed. Therefore, we performed conventional nested PCR (nPCR) followed sequence analysis to identify TBPP infecting cattle Methods: One hundred six samples were collected from the Kathmandu Valley. Thin smears prepared microscopic examination. Parasite DNA was extracted blood, nPCR sequencing present. Results: Among 106 samples, 45 (42.5%) positive piroplasm (Babesia spp. spp.) via microscope observation 56 (52.8%) nPCR. The obtained products used direct sequencing, identified as B. bigemina, bovis, T. annulate orientalis. Phylogenetic analyses showed that bigemina orientalis sequences this study belonged each clade. On other hand, divided into two clades analysis, our also these clades. piroplasm-positive lower hemoglobin red cells than healthy cattle. Conclusions: To best knowledge, first apply molecular detection determination results may be a starting point development successful surveillance prevention programs