title: Epizootiologic instability of bovine populations against Babesia bovis (Piroplasmida:Babesiidae) in the region of Poas, Costa Rica.
abstract: In Poás (Costa Rica), more than 78% of the cattle population is susceptible to Babesia bovis (Babes, 1888) which indicates that care should be taken during animal movement to avoid tick exposure. Seroprevalence is less than 22%; the frequency distribution of antibody titers is presented. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the distribution of seropositive animals between ecological zones. Lower mountain rain forest and lower mountain wet forest presented higher risk for seropositivity. Based on the serological characteristics of the herds and the frequency of clinical cases, it is suggested that the cattle situation in the area is epidemiologically unstable for B. bovis.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Reactivación Ganadera, Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia, Costa Rica.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Herrero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016793:Babesia bovis; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003364:Costa Rica / Q000453:epidemiology; D005843:Geography; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013045:Species Specificity; D017282:Tick-Borne Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013987:Ticks / Q000145:classification