Prevalence and risk factors of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection in cattle in northwestern Iran
Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology
Rahim Ghadimipour
1
(
Assistant Professor, Department of Research and Development, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Marand, Iran.
)
Vahid Noaman
2
(
Associate Professor, Department of Animal Parasitology Research, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
)
Morteza taghizadeh
3
(
Assistant Professor, Department of Research and Development, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
)
Keywords: Iran, East Azarbaijan, cattle, Risk Factors, Babesia, West Azarbaijan,
Abstract :
This study was designed to investigate the epidemiological distribution of B. bovis and B. bigemina using molecular method and related risk factors in a number of cattle in northwestern Iran. For this purpose, 153 blood samples were randomly collected in the East and West Azarbaijan provinces. The extracted DNA from blood cells was analyzed using a set of primers derived from the 18s rRNA gene for members of the genera Babesia by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A semi-nested PCR technique was used for the identification of B. bovis and B. bigemina species. Based on the results of the present study, out of 153 blood samples, 39 (25.49%) were infected with a species of Babesia protozoan parasite, 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 the effect of age, gender, and tick burden was not statistically significant. 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.
Aktas, M. and Ozubek, S. (2015). Molecular and parasitological survey of bovine piroplasms in the Black Sea region, including the first report of Babesiosis associated with Babesia divergens in Turkey. Journal of Medical Entomology, 52(6): 1344-1350.
● Bakirci, S., Sarali, H., Aydin, L., Eren, H. and Karagenc, T. (2012). Distribution and seasonal activity of tick species on cattle in the West Aegean region of Turkey. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 56(2): 165-178.
● Chaudhry, Z.I., Suleman, M., Younus, M. and Aslim, A. (2010). Molecular detection of Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis in crossbred carrier cattle through PCR. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 42(2): 201-204.
● Esmaeilnejad, B., Tavassoli, M., Asri-Rezaei, S., Dalir-Naghadeh, B., Mardani, K., Golabi, M., et al. (2015). Determination of prevalence and risk factors of infection with Babesia ovis in small ruminants from West Azerbaijan province, Iran, by Polymerase Chain Reaction. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, 9(2): 246-252.
● Fakhar, M., Hajihasani, A., Maroufi, S., Alizadeh, H., Shirzad, H., Piri, F., et al. (2012). An epidemiological survey on bovine and ovine Babesiosis in Kurdistan province, western Iran. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 44(2): 319-322.
● Georges, K., Loria, G.R., Riili, S., Greco, A., Caracappa, S., Jongejan, F., et al. (2001). Detection of haemoparasites in cattle by reverse line blot hybridisation with a note on the distribution of ticks in Sicily. Veterinary Parasitology, 99(4): 273-286.
● Gharekhani, A. and Tavassoli, M. (2012). Survey on infestation to external parasites and their roles in transmission of protozoan disease in goat in Maku region. Journal of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 6(1): 1427-1434. ]In Persian[
● Gubbels, J.M., de Vos, A.P., van der Weide, M., Viseras, J., Schouls, L.M., de Vries, E., at al. (1999). Simultaneus detection of bovine Theileria and Babesia spp. by reverse line blot hybridization. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 37(6): 1782-1789.
● Hasheminasab, S.S., Moradi, P. and Wright, I. (2018). A four year epidemiological and chemotherapy survey of Babesiosis and Theileriosis, and tick vectors in sheep, cattle and goats in Dehgolan, Iran. Annals of Parasitology, 64(1): 43-48.
● Hoghooghi-Rad, N., Hashemi, S. and Abdigoudarzi, M. (2013). Detection of Theileriosis in vector ticks by Polymerase Chain Reaction method (PCR) in Lorestan province. Journal of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 7(26): 1828-1834. ]In Persian[
● Jalali, S.M., Khaki, Z., Kazemi, B., Bandehpour, M., Rahbari, S., Razi Jalali, M., et al. (2013). Molecular detection and identification of Anaplasmaspecies in sheep from Ahvaz, Iran. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research, 14(1): 50-56. ] In Persian [
● Khaki, Z., Jalali, S.M., Kazemi, B., Razi Jalali, M. and Yasini, S.P. (2015). A study of hematological changes in sheep naturally infected with Anaplasmaspp. and Theileria ovis: Molecular diagnosis. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 9(1): 19-26. ] In Persian [
● Khamesipour, F., Doosti, A., Koohi, A., Chehelgerdi, M., Mokhtari-Farsani, A. and Chengula, A.A. (2015). Determination of the presence of Babesia DNA in blood samples of cattle, camel and sheep in Iran by PCR. Archives of Biological Sciences, 67(1): 83-90.
● Mahmoudvand, P., Varshosaz, M., Nayebzadeh, H., Rocky, A. and Pourmahdi Borujeni, M. (2019). Study the frequency of blood parasites of sheep in Dezful suburb, southwest Iran. Iranian Veterinary Journal, 15(3): 68-78. ]In Persian[
● Passos, L.M., Bell-Sakyi, L. and Brown, C.G. (1998). Immunochemical characterization of in vitro culture-derived antigens of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina. Veterinary Parasitology, 76(4): 239-249.
● Rajabi, S., Esmaeilnejad, B. and Tavassoli, M. (2017). A molecular study on Babesia spp. in cattle and ticks in West-Azerbaijan province, Iran. Veterinary Research Forum, 8(4): 299-306.
● Ranjbar Bahadori, SH. and Afshari Moghadam, A. (2009). Study on the prevalence of blood parasites in camels of Zabol in 2008. Journal of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 3(2): 503-507. ]In Persian[
● Razmi, G.R., Dastjerdi, K., Hossieni, H., Naghibi, A., Barati, F. and Aslani, M.R. (2006). An epidemiological study on Anaplasmainfection in cattle, sheep, and goats in Mashhad suburb, Khorasan province, Iran. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1078(1): 479-481.
● Shayan, P. and Rahbari, S. (2005). Simultaneous differentiation between Theileriaspp. and Babesiaspp. on stained blood smear using PCR. Parasitology Research,97(4): 281-286.
● Silva, M.G., Henriques, G., Sánchez, C., Marques, P.X., Suarez, C.E. and Oliva, A. (2009). First survey for Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection in cattle from central and southern regions of Portugal using serological and DNA detection methods. Veterinary Parasitology, 166(1-2): 66-72.
● Terkawi, M.A., Huyen, N.X., Shinuo, C., Inpankaew, T., Maklon, K., Aboulaila, M., et al. (2011). Molecular and serological prevalence of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in water buffaloes in the northeast region of Thailand. Veterinary Parasitology, 178(3-4): 201-207.
● Theodoropoulos, G., Gazouli, M., Ikonomopoulos, J.A., Kantzoura, V. and Kominakis, A. (2006). Determination of prevalence and risk factors of infection with Babesiain small ruminants from Greece by Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification. Veterinary Parasitology, 135(2): 99-104.
● Wagner, G.G., Holman, P. and Waghela, S. (2002). Babesiosis and heartwater: threats without boundaries. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 18(3): 417-430.
● Yakhchali, M., Rostami, A. and Esmaelzadeh, M. (2011). Diversity and seasonal distribution of ixodid ticks in the natural habitat of domestic ruminants in north and south of Iran. Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire, 162(5): 229-235.
● Yeruham, I., Hadani, A. and Galker, F. (1998). Some epizootiological and clinical aspects of ovine Babesiosis caused by Babesia ovis: a review. Veterinary Parasitology, 74(2-4): 153-163.
● Ziapour, S.P., Esfandiari, B. and Youssefi, M.R. (2011). Study of the prevalence of Babesiosis in domesticated animals with suspected signs in Mazandaran province, north of Iran, during 2008. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10(6): 712-714.
_||_Aktas, M. and Ozubek, S. (2015). Molecular and parasitological survey of bovine piroplasms in the Black Sea region, including the first report of Babesiosis associated with Babesia divergens in Turkey. Journal of Medical Entomology, 52(6): 1344-1350.
● Bakirci, S., Sarali, H., Aydin, L., Eren, H. and Karagenc, T. (2012). Distribution and seasonal activity of tick species on cattle in the West Aegean region of Turkey. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 56(2): 165-178.
● Chaudhry, Z.I., Suleman, M., Younus, M. and Aslim, A. (2010). Molecular detection of Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis in crossbred carrier cattle through PCR. Pakistan Journal of Zoology, 42(2): 201-204.
● Esmaeilnejad, B., Tavassoli, M., Asri-Rezaei, S., Dalir-Naghadeh, B., Mardani, K., Golabi, M., et al. (2015). Determination of prevalence and risk factors of infection with Babesia ovis in small ruminants from West Azerbaijan province, Iran, by Polymerase Chain Reaction. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases, 9(2): 246-252.
● Fakhar, M., Hajihasani, A., Maroufi, S., Alizadeh, H., Shirzad, H., Piri, F., et al. (2012). An epidemiological survey on bovine and ovine Babesiosis in Kurdistan province, western Iran. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 44(2): 319-322.
● Georges, K., Loria, G.R., Riili, S., Greco, A., Caracappa, S., Jongejan, F., et al. (2001). Detection of haemoparasites in cattle by reverse line blot hybridisation with a note on the distribution of ticks in Sicily. Veterinary Parasitology, 99(4): 273-286.
● Gharekhani, A. and Tavassoli, M. (2012). Survey on infestation to external parasites and their roles in transmission of protozoan disease in goat in Maku region. Journal of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 6(1): 1427-1434. ]In Persian[
● Gubbels, J.M., de Vos, A.P., van der Weide, M., Viseras, J., Schouls, L.M., de Vries, E., at al. (1999). Simultaneus detection of bovine Theileria and Babesia spp. by reverse line blot hybridization. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 37(6): 1782-1789.
● Hasheminasab, S.S., Moradi, P. and Wright, I. (2018). A four year epidemiological and chemotherapy survey of Babesiosis and Theileriosis, and tick vectors in sheep, cattle and goats in Dehgolan, Iran. Annals of Parasitology, 64(1): 43-48.
● Hoghooghi-Rad, N., Hashemi, S. and Abdigoudarzi, M. (2013). Detection of Theileriosis in vector ticks by Polymerase Chain Reaction method (PCR) in Lorestan province. Journal of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 7(26): 1828-1834. ]In Persian[
● Jalali, S.M., Khaki, Z., Kazemi, B., Bandehpour, M., Rahbari, S., Razi Jalali, M., et al. (2013). Molecular detection and identification of Anaplasmaspecies in sheep from Ahvaz, Iran. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Research, 14(1): 50-56. ] In Persian [
● Khaki, Z., Jalali, S.M., Kazemi, B., Razi Jalali, M. and Yasini, S.P. (2015). A study of hematological changes in sheep naturally infected with Anaplasmaspp. and Theileria ovis: Molecular diagnosis. Iranian Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 9(1): 19-26. ] In Persian [
● Khamesipour, F., Doosti, A., Koohi, A., Chehelgerdi, M., Mokhtari-Farsani, A. and Chengula, A.A. (2015). Determination of the presence of Babesia DNA in blood samples of cattle, camel and sheep in Iran by PCR. Archives of Biological Sciences, 67(1): 83-90.
● Mahmoudvand, P., Varshosaz, M., Nayebzadeh, H., Rocky, A. and Pourmahdi Borujeni, M. (2019). Study the frequency of blood parasites of sheep in Dezful suburb, southwest Iran. Iranian Veterinary Journal, 15(3): 68-78. ]In Persian[
● Passos, L.M., Bell-Sakyi, L. and Brown, C.G. (1998). Immunochemical characterization of in vitro culture-derived antigens of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina. Veterinary Parasitology, 76(4): 239-249.
● Rajabi, S., Esmaeilnejad, B. and Tavassoli, M. (2017). A molecular study on Babesia spp. in cattle and ticks in West-Azerbaijan province, Iran. Veterinary Research Forum, 8(4): 299-306.
● Ranjbar Bahadori, SH. and Afshari Moghadam, A. (2009). Study on the prevalence of blood parasites in camels of Zabol in 2008. Journal of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, 3(2): 503-507. ]In Persian[
● Razmi, G.R., Dastjerdi, K., Hossieni, H., Naghibi, A., Barati, F. and Aslani, M.R. (2006). An epidemiological study on Anaplasmainfection in cattle, sheep, and goats in Mashhad suburb, Khorasan province, Iran. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1078(1): 479-481.
● Shayan, P. and Rahbari, S. (2005). Simultaneous differentiation between Theileriaspp. and Babesiaspp. on stained blood smear using PCR. Parasitology Research,97(4): 281-286.
● Silva, M.G., Henriques, G., Sánchez, C., Marques, P.X., Suarez, C.E. and Oliva, A. (2009). First survey for Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection in cattle from central and southern regions of Portugal using serological and DNA detection methods. Veterinary Parasitology, 166(1-2): 66-72.
● Terkawi, M.A., Huyen, N.X., Shinuo, C., Inpankaew, T., Maklon, K., Aboulaila, M., et al. (2011). Molecular and serological prevalence of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in water buffaloes in the northeast region of Thailand. Veterinary Parasitology, 178(3-4): 201-207.
● Theodoropoulos, G., Gazouli, M., Ikonomopoulos, J.A., Kantzoura, V. and Kominakis, A. (2006). Determination of prevalence and risk factors of infection with Babesiain small ruminants from Greece by Polymerase Chain Reaction amplification. Veterinary Parasitology, 135(2): 99-104.
● Wagner, G.G., Holman, P. and Waghela, S. (2002). Babesiosis and heartwater: threats without boundaries. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Food Animal Practice, 18(3): 417-430.
● Yakhchali, M., Rostami, A. and Esmaelzadeh, M. (2011). Diversity and seasonal distribution of ixodid ticks in the natural habitat of domestic ruminants in north and south of Iran. Revue de Médecine Vétérinaire, 162(5): 229-235.
● Yeruham, I., Hadani, A. and Galker, F. (1998). Some epizootiological and clinical aspects of ovine Babesiosis caused by Babesia ovis: a review. Veterinary Parasitology, 74(2-4): 153-163.
● Ziapour, S.P., Esfandiari, B. and Youssefi, M.R. (2011). Study of the prevalence of Babesiosis in domesticated animals with suspected signs in Mazandaran province, north of Iran, during 2008. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 10(6): 712-714.
