Bovine Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis in some Cattle Farms in the Vina Division

Abstract

Cattle infection with Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis like other Tick Borne Diseases (TBDs) is common in the Vina Division of the Adamaoua region of Cameroon. In this present investigation, cattle were diagnosed of the following TBDs in various proportions: Babesia bovis (24.1%), Babesia bigemina (4.84%), Anaplasma marginale (62.0%) and Anaplasma centrale (53.5%). The overall polyparasitism (Babesia + Anaplasma) prevalence was 24.4% and was less than single infections (Babesia spp or Anaplasma spp) with no significant difference (P˃0.05). It was observed that the use of an acaricide whatever the mode of application seems to significantly reduce the infestation with ticks, but had no effect on the prevalence of tick-borne blood parasites. Young animals were more susceptible to the diagnosed blood parasites, anemia and polyparasitism than their adult counterparts. Hematocrit was lower in traditional management scheme and can be attributed to the likely presence of heavy infection doses of blood parasites during the study. The application of acaricide is recommended to reduce the infestation with ticks, thereby improving the health of animals. Similarly a control strategy against these parasites and their vectors should not be neglected in the Vina Division.