Abstract
This study aimed to determine the dynamics of natural infection in the transmission of Babesia spp. to cattle in an enzootic instability area in Northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 30 calves located on two dairy farms to determine the packed cell volume (PCV) and the timing of the primo-infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and their association with climatic factors and management practices. On Farm A, the determination of primo-infection was observed on average at 249.4 (±24.42) days of age for B. bigemina and at 252.6 (±17.07) days of age for B. bovis; there was no significant difference between the times of infection (P> 0.05). The infection coincided with a period of high rainfall in the region. On Farm B, primo-infection infection was not observed. There was no infection by Babesia spp. on Farm B due to the intensive use of acaricides that led to an absence of ticks. There was no significant difference between the average PCV of animals from Farms A and B (P> 0.05). The management practices on the properties, in addition to the weather conditions influenced the exposure of the animals to disease vectors and may have contributed to the maintenance of this enzootic area in Northeastern Brazil.
Highlights
Bovine babesiosis is caused by Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina, which are cattle parasites that exist in almost all Brazilian territories; the Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus tick is a vector for these parasites (ESTRADA-PENÃ et al, 2006; RÍOS-TOBÓN et al, 2014)
In Brazil, the seroprevalence rates of babesiosis vary from 27.9% to 100%, and the epidemiological condition for this disease is related to the climatic conditions and management systems that directly affect the vector cycle (ALVES, 1987; SANTOS et al, 2001; RÍOS-TOBÓN et al, 2014)
There is a risk of bovine babesiosis outbreaks due to high rates of adult bovine mortality; bovine babesiosis may occur because many animals in the area have not developed a specific immune response because they were not infected during their first months of life (GOFF et al, 2001; BERTO et al, 2008)
Summary
Bovine babesiosis is caused by Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina, which are cattle parasites that exist in almost all Brazilian territories; the Riphicephalus (Boophilus) microplus tick is a vector for these parasites (ESTRADA-PENÃ et al, 2006; RÍOS-TOBÓN et al, 2014). In Brazil, the seroprevalence rates of babesiosis vary from 27.9% to 100%, and the epidemiological condition for this disease is related to the climatic conditions and management systems that directly affect the vector cycle (ALVES, 1987; SANTOS et al, 2001; RÍOS-TOBÓN et al, 2014). In this panorama, three different areas are observed: disease-free areas, areas of enzootic stability and areas of enzootic instability (GUIMARÃES et al, 2011). The primo-infection usually occurs between four and six months of life, with the peak of the parasitemia coinciding with the fall of the packed cell volume; in old age, primo-infection is usually severe and can be fatal (CARRIQUE MAS et al, 2000; SMITH et al, 2000)
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