EFFICIENCY OF BLOOD SMEARS AND ELISA IN DIAGNOSIS OF BABESIA BIGEMINA IN CATTLE IN DAKAHLIA PROVINCE, EGYPT

The present study was planned to clarify the incidence of Babesia bigmenia affecting cattle in some localities in Dakahlia province. A total of 336 cattle (3-6 years old) in different localities Dakahlia province were investigated for the presence of Babesia bigemina using Giemsa stained blood smears and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Babesia bigemina was detected in 24 (7.14%) out of 336 examined cattle using Giemsa stained blood smears. Serological examination of serum of the same samples using ELISA revealed that 78 cattle (23.2%) were infected with Babesia bigemina. The incidence of Babesia bigemina in different localities of Dakahlia province using Giemsa stained blood smears was 2.2%, 7.5%, 1.1%, 6.9% and 4% in Sherbeen, Sinbelawean, Mansoura, Aga and Belkas respectively, while the incidence of Babesia bigemina in the examined cattle by ELISA revealed that 21.7%, 20%, 28%, 23.3% and 20% of the samples were + ve for B. bigemina in Sherbeen, Sinbelawean, Mansora, Aga and Belkas respectively. Concerning the seasonal incidence of Babesia bigemina , the highest incidence was detected in summer season to be 10.3% and 34.5% using Giemsa stained blood smears and ELISA , respectively. Regarding the occurrence Babesia bigemina in different ages, the results revealed that the percent of + ve animals were 8.2%, 7% and 6.1% in cattle less than 3 years, 3 - 6 years and over 6 years respectively using blood smear. The incidence of Babesia bigemina using ELISA had high incidence in ages less than 3 years (22.9%) and over 6 years (26.3%), while incidence was moderate in ages between 3 – 6 years (20%) ,