Molecular detection and prevalence of B. bigemina and B. bovis in cattle in Lorestan province, Iran

Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by protozoa of the genus Babesia. This study aimed to determine the B. bigemina and B. bovis among cattle of Lorestan Province. A total of 258 blood samples were collected via the jugular vein from healthy cattle, randomly. The extracted DNA from blood cells was amplified by Babesia-all primers, which amplify an approximately 400bp DNA fragment from the region of the 18S rRNA gene from various members of the genus Babesia. All cattle positive samples were further analysed for the presence of B. bigemina and B. bovis by specific semi-nested PCR. B. bigemina and B. bovis were identified by specific semi-nested PCR in 17.8% and 19.4% of cattle blood samples, respectively. Chi-square tests were used to compare molecular prevalence values relative to climate, altitude, longitude, latitude,  farm type, hygiene, vectors, use of acaricide, distance from other farms, contact with wild ruminants, farm density, race, age, and sex were recorded for each animal. Among these factors, a significant association was only found between the prev-alence of B. bigemina infection and farm density (P< 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that farm type and farm density were significant risk factors for B. bovis infection in cattle of Lorestan province (P< 0.01). The results of this study can be used in strategic planning for the prevention and control of bovine babesiosis in dairy cattle in the west of Iran.