Study of Anaplasma and Babesia infection rates of cattle and associated ticks in the South Coast of Guatemala

Abstract

Babesia bovis, B. bigemina and Anaplasma marginale have been suspected to be widespread in the South Coast of Guatemala. The epidemiology of the parasites was studied by monitoring 17 calves at monthly intervals during a period of one year at two farms and by counting and detaching all "standard" female ticks collected on one half of each of the animals. Bovine blood and serum samples were examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and by serological tests, respectively. In addition, the PCR technique was applied on the haemolymph and intestines of the detached ticks. Boophilus microplus was the only tick species encountered on the calves. The presence of the three haemoparasites was confirmed in both calves and ticks. High infection rates in the calves were associated with high infection rates in the detached ticks for B. bigemina. However, for B. bovis and A. marginale this association was not found. Furthermore, the PCR and serological results of consecutive samplings of the same animals showed considerable variation in antigen and antibody levels, respectively. No clinical cases of babesiosis and anaplasmosis were observed during the study period, which agrees with an endemically stable situation under current herd management practices.