Molecular and serological prevalence of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in cattle from central region of Syria

Mohamad Alaa Terkawi, Hend Alhasan, Nguyen Xuan Huyen, Amin Sabagh, Karam Awier, Shinuo Cao, Youn Kyoung Goo, Gabriel Aboge, Naoaki Yokoyama, Yoshifumi Nishikawa, Abdul Karim Kalb-Allouz, Darem Tabbaa, Ikuo Igarashi, Xuenan Xuan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

32 Scopus citations

Abstract

A total of 207 bovine blood samples were collected from clinically healthy cattle bred in central region of Syria and examined by Giemsa-stained blood smears, nested PCR, ELISA, and IFAT to determine the molecular and serological prevalence of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. All samples were negative to Babesia spp. by microscopic examination of blood smears. On the other hand, the overall prevalence of B. bovis and B. bigemina was 9.18% and 15.46% by nPCR, 15.46% and 18.84% by ELISA, and 18.36% and 21.74% by IFAT, respectively. Mixed infections were detected in a total of 5 samples (2.4%) by nPCR, 16 (7.73%) by ELISA and 27 (13.04%) by IFAT. Statistically significant differences in the prevalence of the two infections were observed on the basis of age and location. These data provide valuable information regarding the occurrence and epidemiology of B. bovis and B. bigemina infections in Syrian cattle, which can be employed in developing rational strategies for disease control and management.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)307-311
Number of pages5
JournalVeterinary Parasitology
Volume187
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 8 Jun 2012

Keywords

  • B. bigemina
  • Babesia bovis
  • Diagnosis
  • ELISA
  • IFAT
  • NPCR

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