Epidemiological Studies Towards Cattle Babesiosis – Tick–borne Disease

Abstract

Cattle babesiosis is a dangerous and economically important tick–borne disease caused by hemoprotozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. The vector of the disease are ticks from Ixodidae family. Symptoms of disease are fever, anorexia, lethargy, anemia, jaundice and hemoglobinuria.The purpose of this study was to investigate prevalence of Babesia spp. in cattle in Lublin region. The PCR technique revealed the presence of 18S RNA Babesia spp. genetic material in the blood of 20 from 192 examined animals (10.4%). Our study showed that the bovine babesiosis occur in Poland with asymptomatic form and does not reduce milk production significantly. The diagnosis depends only on the basis of detection of the genetic material of parasite, and the direct microscopic examination of blood smears is not useful in the identification of Babesia spp. in erythrocytes.The comparison of PCR products showed low homology level between isolates with present study and other Babesia sequences obtained around the world.Moreover, the study showed the prevalence of piroplasms in ticks from Lublin region is low (0,63%).

Babesiosis in Southeastern, Central and Northeastern Europe: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Tick-Borne Disease of Humans and Animals

“…In eastern Poland (Lubelskie province) Babesia spp. DNA has been detected in 10.4% of apparently healthy dairy cows (20/192), with no effect on the hematological and biochemical parameters or milk productivity in the positive animals [ 208 , 209 ]. The exact identification of the piroplasm species involved was not possible because the sequencing of 18S rDNA revealed only a low similarity (max 93% identity) to B. occultans .…”

Preliminary assessment of the prevalence of antibodies to Babesia spp. in a group occupationally exposed to tick bites in Poland

“…Większość przypadków pozytywnych zaobserwowano u osób z prawidłową odpornością [82,83,84]. Dodatkowo stwierdzono bezobjawowe zarażenie B. venatorum lub B. divergens [85,86,87]. Badania serologiczne wykazały stosunkowo wysoką seroprewalencję w grupach ryzyka (ok. 9% u leśników i pacjentów zakażonych wirusem HIV) [82,84,86].…”

“…Dodatkowo stwierdzono bezobjawowe zarażenie B. venatorum lub B. divergens [85,86,87]. Badania serologiczne wykazały stosunkowo wysoką seroprewalencję w grupach ryzyka (ok. 9% u leśników i pacjentów zakażonych wirusem HIV) [82,84,86]. Wyniki te znacznie przewyższają otrzymane wyniki badań własnych, również prowadzonych na grupie osób o podwyższonym ryzyku zarażenia pierwotniakami Babesia spp.…”