Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and Iranian Biotechnology Society Agricultural Biotechnology Journal 2228-6705 18 3 2026 08 23 Molecular characterization of Chrysomya bezziana isolated from sheep and goats in Al Muthanna Governorate, Iraq Molecular characterization of Chrysomya bezziana isolated from sheep and goats in Al Muthanna Governorate, Iraq 585 598 5472 10.22103/jab.2026.27124.1889 FA Zeina Qasim Fahmi Department of Parasitology, College Veterinary Medicine, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon 51013, Iraq Akeel Mohammad Kadim Al-Musawi Department of Parasitology, College Veterinary Medicine, Al-Qasim Green University, Babylon 51013, Iraq. Journal Article 2026 05 07 Objective The Old World screwworm fly (Chrysomya bezziana) is an obligate parasitic fly that causes myiasis in livestock and occasionally in humans. It causes obligate myiasis in livestock and can infest humans in some cases. The aim of the current study was to identify Chrysomya bezziana larvae collected from sheep and goats in Al-Muthanna Governorate, Iraq using molecular techniques for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and investigate the phylogenetic relationship between Iraqi isolates and global reference strains. Materials and methods In this study, A total of 100 larvae were collected from infected sheep and goats (n = 150 examined animals) from different regions of Al-Muthani Governorate, Iraq. Genomic DNA was extracted from the tissues of the collected larvae using a standard method. Species-specific primers were designed to study the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. PCR was used to amplify the 670 bp fragment expected for the designed primers. PCR products from selected positive samples were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Sequences were analyzed using BLAST (NCBI) and phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA11 software to determine their genetic relationships with global isolates. Results Genetic analysis showed that a 670-base-pair segment of the COI gene accurately identified the screwworm fly. Subsequent genetic analysis confirmed this identification by matching the DNA sequence with adult fly samples. The phylogenetic tree shows a degree of separation between Iraqi and global isolates. The Iraqi samples cluster together in their own specific cluster within the tree, while the global isolates are distributed in separate clusters. This indicates that the C. bezziana isolates from Iraq belong to the same species at the global level, but they exhibit slight genetic variation compared to some strains recorded in other countries. Conclusion According to the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the COI gene can be used as an effective molecular marker for the accurate identification of Chrysomya bezziana. The genetic similarity obtained between the Iraqi isolates in this study, although slightly different from global strains, could indicate the presence of regional genetic characteristics of this species in Iraq. Objective The Old World screwworm fly (Chrysomya bezziana) is an obligate parasitic fly that causes myiasis in livestock and occasionally in humans. It causes obligate myiasis in livestock and can infest humans in some cases. The aim of the current study was to identify Chrysomya bezziana larvae collected from sheep and goats in Al-Muthanna Governorate, Iraq using molecular techniques for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene and investigate the phylogenetic relationship between Iraqi isolates and global reference strains. Materials and methods In this study, A total of 100 larvae were collected from infected sheep and goats (n = 150 examined animals) from different regions of Al-Muthani Governorate, Iraq. Genomic DNA was extracted from the tissues of the collected larvae using a standard method. Species-specific primers were designed to study the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. PCR was used to amplify the 670 bp fragment expected for the designed primers. PCR products from selected positive samples were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Sequences were analyzed using BLAST (NCBI) and phylogenetic analysis was performed using MEGA11 software to determine their genetic relationships with global isolates. Results Genetic analysis showed that a 670-base-pair segment of the COI gene accurately identified the screwworm fly. Subsequent genetic analysis confirmed this identification by matching the DNA sequence with adult fly samples. The phylogenetic tree shows a degree of separation between Iraqi and global isolates. The Iraqi samples cluster together in their own specific cluster within the tree, while the global isolates are distributed in separate clusters. This indicates that the C. bezziana isolates from Iraq belong to the same species at the global level, but they exhibit slight genetic variation compared to some strains recorded in other countries. Conclusion According to the results obtained in this study, it can be concluded that the COI gene can be used as an effective molecular marker for the accurate identification of Chrysomya bezziana. The genetic similarity obtained between the Iraqi isolates in this study, although slightly different from global strains, could indicate the presence of regional genetic characteristics of this species in Iraq.

https://jab.uk.ac.ir/article_5472_9b47f319caa9f1db88c10a35170a339c.pdf