Prevalence of Cattle Piroplasmosis and Some Associated Risk Factors in Lower Shabelle Region, Somalia

Background: Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) cause significant losses among livestock and impact the livelihoods of livestock communities worldwide including Somalia. Infections with Babesia and Theileria species are endemic in Somalia yet there is a lack of adequate information on their prevalence. Objective: The present study aimed to assess the prevalence of Cattle Piroplasmosis in three districts of Lower Shabelle Region, Somalia using microscope and to identify the available tick species found in the sampled cattle during the study. Methods: A total of 127 Cattle blood were examined for Piroplasms (Babesia and Theileria) using Microscope during January to February 2020. The available ticks were collected in 70% Ethanol. Results: The overall prevalence of Piroplasmosis was 123/127 (96.9% 95% CI: 92.1-99.1%). About 45 out of 127 (35.4% 95% CI: 27.1-44.1%) samples were positive for either Theileria or Babesia, while 78 out 127 (61.4% 95% CI: 52.4-69.9%) samples were mixed infected with both them. Risk factors like age, body condition, sex, lymphnode enlargement and presence of ticks were found to be insignificantly associated with Babesiosis and Theileriosis. For both infections the mean PCV of infected animals was insignificantly lower than non-infected animals. Six tick species belonging to two genera (Rhipicephalus and Amblyomma) were identified in the investigated cattle, including, R. pulchellus (64.7%), R. (Boophilus) microplus, (2%) R. (Boophilus) decoloratus (2%), R.evertsi, (3.9%) A. gemma (15.7%) and A. lepidum (11.8%). Conclusion: This study revealed a very high prevalence of Piroplasmosis in the study area and co-infections were more common than single infections. Further studies in other areas in the country are recommended.