Prevalence and risk factors of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection in cattle in northwestern Iran

This study was designed to molecular investigation of the epidemiological distribution of B. bovis and B. bigemina in cattle in northwestern Iran. For this purpose, 153 blood samples were randomly collected in the East- and West Azarbaijan provinces. After DNA extraction, a semi-nested PCR technique was used for the identification of B. bovis and B. bigemina species. Based on the results, out of 153 samples, 39 (25.49 %) were infected with Babesia, one of which was simultaneously infected with both Babesia species, and B. bovis and B. bigemina were detected in 38 (97.43 %) and 2 (5.12 %) samples, respectively. Our findings showed a high prevalence of B. bovis in comparison with B. bigemina in the animals (24.83 % vs. 1.30 %). In present research, the prevalence of Babesia species in West Azarbaijan province was significantly higher than that in East Azarbaijan (70 % vs. 30 %). Risk factors analysis revealed that although statistically significant differences in the prevalence of the babesiosis were observed based on climate, season, flock management, feeding and race (p < 0.05) but not age, gender, and tick burden. Our data provide valuable information regarding the epidemiology of B. bovis and B. bigemina infection in cattle in northwestern Iran which will likely be very beneficial for the management and control programs of the disease.