Molecular detection of members of Borrelia genus in duck blood sample using nested-PCR method

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Departement of Pathobiology, faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran

2 Semnan university

Abstract

Birds are among the most important reservoirs of Borrelia and play a key role in the transmission of infection to humans. Therefore, the aim of the present study was the molecular detection of Borrelia species in duck blood samples using the nested PCR method. In this study, blood samples were collected from 200 native ducks in the Mazandaran region. At the time of sampling, information such as the gender and age of each bird was recorded. Blood was drawn from the brachial vein of the wing and collected in EDTA-containing tubes. Following blood smear preparation and slide examination, molecular analysis was performed using the PCR technique with specific primers to detect the presence of Borrelia infection in the sampled birds. In total, 200 duck samples were subjected to molecular examination. Nested-PCR was employed for the detection of Borrelia species. Both forward and reverse primers were used for species identification and, potentially, for gender differentiation of the pathogen. Preliminary nested-PCR analysis revealed that 2 out of the 200 ducks tested positive for Borrelia infection. Initially, 11 out of 36 microtubes containing samples tested positive in the nested-PCR machine, but subsequent confirmation tests narrowed the number of positive cases to 2. The results of this study highlight the presence of Borrelia infection in ducks from the Mazandaran province. These findings should be taken into account for biosecurity planning, especially to prevent disease transmission to local farms and humans, by observing appropriate public health and veterinary measures.
 
 

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References

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Journal of Veterinary Laboratory Research
Volume 17, Issue 1 - Serial Number 27
in processing
April 2025
Pages 63-70

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