Prevalence of babesia infection in cattle from jiri and Bardaghat, Nepal

Abstract

Babesia infection is a significant tick-borne disease affecting cattle worldwide, leading to substantial economic losses in the livestock industry. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Babesia infection in two different regions of Nepal: Jiri and Bardaghat Municipalities of Dolakha and Nawalparasi-west district respectively using both microscopy and PCR techniques. A total of 190 cattle were examined, with 90 from Jiri and 100 from Bardaghat. Sample from Jiri were from a single farm with open grazing system, while those from Bardaghat were from multiple farms and confined. Blood samples were collected in EDTA tubes . Thin blood smears were prepared for microscopic examination. Parasite's DNA was extracted from blood sample. PCR test was performed to identify Babesia present in cattle. Microscopy detected Babesia in 11.1% cattle from Jiri and 7% from Bardaghat, while PCR demonstrated higher detection rates, identifying infection in 56% and 50% of tested samples from Jiri and Bardaghat, respectively. The findings highlight the sensitivity of PCR compared to microscopy for diagnosing Babesia infection. Upon DNA sequencing, 6 piroplasm species were recorded among which Babesia bovis and Theileria orintalis were most prevalent. The localized transmission of ticks within Jiri farm influenced by farm management practices and open grazing contributed for higher prevalence. The hematological analysis revealed significant (P≤0.05) reduction in Hb concentration, RBCs and increase in WBC count in infected cattle. This molecular level research provides new data on the wide distribution of Babesia infection across diverse geographical zones, which could be important for implementing effective disease control strategies in both the Terai and Himalayan regions.