Molecular Detection of Sheep Haemonchus contortus in Al-Diwaniyah Province/Iraq

Abstract

Background:  Haemonchus contortus infection is common in sheep in most parts of Iraq. The idea of ​​this study is to accurately determine the infection of these nematode in sheep using a molecular method in Al-Diwaniyah province, central Iraq.

Methods: Two hundred forty (240) fecal samples were collected randomly and then microscopically tested for Trichostronglide eggs. The DNA was extracted from the eggs of the positive samples, then the PCR amplification of 2ITS-rDNA region was accomplished, and the successed amplified samples were subjected to gene sequence analysis.

Results: Out of the 240 examined samples, 58 (24.16%) contained Trichostronglide eggs, and after DNA extraction, 16 (27.58%) succeeded in amplifying the ITS2 region. Only 11 (68.75%) of which were successful in the sequence analysis to confirm the presence of the Haemonchus contortus parasite in central Iraq.

Conclusion: Haemonchus contortus is an endemic parasite that infects sheep in the study area.