Biochem. Cell. Arch. Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 659-664, 2021 www.connectjournals.com/bca ISSN 0972-5075 DocID: https://connectjournals.com/03896.2021.21.659 eISSN 0976-1772 MOLECULAR DETECTION OF OVINE COENUROSIS

Estabraq A. N. Al-Zaidi1*, Amal H. A. Al-Shabbaini2 and Ahmed S. S. Al-Mosoy3 1Department of Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Wasit University, Wasit, . 2Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq. 3Department of Animal Production, College of Agricultural, Wasit University, Wasit, Iraq. *e-mail : [email protected] (Received 12 August 2020, Revised 30 October 2020, Accepted 19 November 2020)

ABSTRACT : This study aims for detecting the prevalence of C. cerebralis in sheep using the molecular assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Totally, 250 sheep of different ages and sex were selected randomly from different areas in Wasit province, Iraq, during June-2020 to October-2020. Findings of case history data revealed that 73 of study animals were having at least one abnormal sign; among them, higher significant elevation was detected in depression and the lowered in convulsion. Findings of conventional PCR reported that 5.2% of DNA samples were positives for C. cerebralis. Significant increases in positivity were observed in sheep with circular movement. Concerning epidemiological risk factors, the findings of area factor were detected significant increases in positivity in Al- district and decreases in Al-Suwaira district. For age factor, significant higher positivity was seen in a group of ≥≥≥1-2 years when compared to a group of <1 year. For sex factor, no significant variation was detected between positive females and males. We concluded that C. cerebralis are prevalent in sheep of study areas; therefore, epidemiological studies based on different diagnostic assay are required. Also, it is necessary to establishment an efficient preventive and control measurement to reduce economic losses caused by coenurosis. Key words : Coenurus cerebralis, Taenia multiceps, sheep, polymerase chain reaction, Iraq. How to cite : Estabraq A. N. Al-Zaidi, Amal H. A. Al-Shabbaini and Ahmed S. S. Al-Mosoy (2021) Molecular detection of ovine coenurosis. Biochem. Cell. Arch. 21, 659-664. DocID: https://connectjournals.com/03896.2021.21.659

INTRODUCTION sheep, as acute and chronic phases. In sheep, it is known Coenurosis is a parasitic infection of intermediate sometimes as “Gid” or “Sturdy” because the location of hosts by the larval form, Coenurus cerebralis, of the the lesions alters the sheep’s equilibrium and leads the adult tapeworm, Taenia multiceps, which belongs to animal to rotate in circles around its position (Desouky et Taeniidae family of Cestode class (Wu et al, 2012). The al, 2011). Dullness, torticollis, loss of appetite, frequent disease has a worldwide distribution particularly in bleating, pain response on pressure over the cystic area, temperate areas resulting in high mortalities and and unilateral partial blindness can be seen also in cerebral morbidities and causing greatly economic losses affected sheep (Abera et al, 2016). However, there particularly in endemic countries like Iraq (Underwood different abnormal abnormalities can shows the et al, 2015; Mohammed, 2020). C. cerebralis usually neurobehavioral signs as echinococcosis, listeriosis, brain circulates in a cycle between carnivores (domestic and abscesses, louping ill, scrapie and cerebral necrosis wild) as final host and herbivores mammals such as (Radostits et al, 2006). In addition, most animal cases sheep, goats, cattle, horses and rarely humans as remain apparently healthy without clinical symptoms, and intermediate host (Newton and Garcia, 2012). The condition was diagnosed only after the death of the animal migration and development of C. cerebralis cyst in from starvation after some weeks (Christodoulopoulos, subcutaneous tissues, skeletal muscles and the central 2007). nervous system; brain and spinal cord, resulting different To overcome problems related to clinical diagnosis, clinical manifestations based on the size and localization many alternative techniques were utilized to diagnisis of of cyst (Avcioglu et al, 2012; Garcia et al, 2014). infected sheep such as radiology, ultrasound and Computed Coenurosis occurs mostly in small ruminants, especially Tomography (CT), which are not used mainly in practice