Acta Vet. Brno 2022, 91: 277-283
A Molecular survey of Hepatozoon canis in dogs in the Siirt province of Turkey
, Özgür Yaşar Çelik2, Adnan Ayan3, Ali Bilgin Yilmaz4, Özlem Orunç Kılınç5, Özge Oktay Ayan6
1Siirt University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Siirt, Turkey
2Siirt University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Siirt, Turkey
3Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Genetics, Van, Turkey
4Van Yuzuncu Yil University, School of Health, Van, Turkey
5Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Özalp Vocational School, Van, Turkey
6Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Van, Turkey
Received December 15, 2021
Accepted June 14, 2022
This study aimed to determine Hepatozoon canis prevalence in dogs in the Siirt province of Turkey by the molecular method. The animal material of the study consisted of a total of 75 dogs that appeared clinically healthy. Two ml of blood sample were taken from the vena cephalica antebrachii. Then, DNA extraction was performed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to amplify the 666 bp 18S rRNA gene region of Hepatozoon canis. Two positive PCR products were purified and sequenced. As a result of Nested-PCR, H. canis specific bands in 666 bp size were obtained in 7 (9.33%) out of 75 dogs. The result of sequence analysis, the nucleotide sequence was registered in the NCBI GenBank database with accession numbers OL467380.1-OL467538.1. Hepatozoon canis registered in GenBank of sequence OL467380.1 was found to be similar with other H. canis strains of registration numbers MW684292.1 with 99.69% and MH615006.1-MK091085.1-MF797806.1 with 99.53% rates; and the sequence with registration number OL467538.1 was found to be similar to the series MW684291.1 with 99.09% and MH615006.1-MK091085.1-KX 818220.1 with 99.08% rates by BLAST analysis. Hepatozoon canis prevalence of dogs in the Siirt province was determined as a result of this study. It is of great importance to take preventive measures, especially to fight ticks with appropriate acaricides, since there is no vaccine to prevent the disease.
