Epidemiology, Molecular Detection And Control Measure Of Babesiosis In Cattle

Babesiosis is economically important disease which causing huge mortality and morbidity to the livestock sector particularly in the under developed countries including Pakistan.The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Babesiosis in Cattle in District Karak and District Kohat Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.The effect of season, Gender, and age on infection rate was also studied.Overall 2400 Cattle blood samples (1200 Calves and 1200 Cows) were examined through PCR and microscopyin karak and kohat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The overall prevalence of Babesiosis in cattle was found 9.875% (237/2400) by microscopic technique. In district Karak 9.25 % (111/1200) prevalence rate and in district Kohat 10.5 % (126/1200) prevalence rate of Babesiosis were found by microscopy during the study.The highest seasonal prevalence of Babesiosis was recorded in the summer 20.375% (163/800) followed by spring 9% (36/400), autumn 7.25% (29/400) and the lowest was seen in the winter 1.125% (9/800). In the present study, female cattle showed high prevalence 11.22% (184/1639) rate of Babesiosis as compare to male cattle 6.96% (53/761).The PCR based Prevalence rate of Babesiosis was found 27.5% (165/600) among this 24% (72/300) prevalence rate was noted in district Karak and 31% (93/300) in district Kohat.It was found that PCR was more sensitive than microscopy in diagnosis of the Babesiosis in cattle.1032 ticks of a different shapes and size were identified as per standard procedure of taxonomic keys.The Boophilus microplus was found 36.2% (374/1032) followed by Hyalomma anatolicum 33.33% (344/1032), Rhipicephalus sanguineus 20.6% (213/1032) and the lowest was Boophilus annulatus 9.78% (101/1032). Boophilus microplus was found infected with Babesia species. Prevalence of B.bovis was found 11.2% (35/311), B.bigemina 6.7% (21/311) and mixed infection 15.1% (47/311) respectively in vector ticks.Different control strategies against Babesiosis were carried out during the study which shows satisfactory results.