Prevalence and risk factors of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection in cattle in northwestern Iran

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the epidemiological distribution of B. bovis and B. bigemina using molecular method and related risk factors in a number of cattle in northwestern Iran. For this purpose, 153 blood samples were randomly collected in the East and West Azarbaijan provinces. The extracted DNA from blood cells was analyzed using a set of primers derived from the 18s rRNA gene for members of the genera Babesia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A semi-nested PCR technique was used for the identification of B. bovis and B. bigemina species. Based on the results of the present study, out of 153 blood samples, 39 (25.49%) were infected with a species of Babesia protozoan parasite, one of which was simultaneously infected with both Babesia species, and B. bovis and B. bigemina were detected in 38 (97.43 %) and 2 (5.12 %) samples, respectively. Our findings showed a high prevalence of B. bovis in comparison with B. bigemina in the animals (24.83% vs. 1.30%). In present research, the prevalence of Babesia species in West Azarbaijan province was significantly higher than that in East Azarbaijan (70% vs. 30%). Risk factors analysis revealed that although statistically significant differences in the prevalence of the Babesiosis were observed based on climate, season, flock management, feeding and race (p < 0.05) but the effect of age, gender, and tick burden was not statistically significant. Our data provide valuable information regarding the epidemiology of B. ­bovis and B. ­bigemina infection in cattle in northwestern Iran which will likely be very beneficial for the management and control programs of the disease.