Bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis follow-up on cattle relocated in an endemic area for hemoparasitic diseases.
A multiplex PCR/DNA probe assay was used to monitor Babesia bovis, B. bigemina and Anaplasma marginale infection in cattle introduced to a Boophilus microplus-infested area in Veracruz, Mexico. Eight intact, 18-month-old, cross-bred beef cattle (four naive, Group A; four Babesia species--premunized, Group B) were immediately exposed to ticks after arrival and were clinically monitored from day 6 to day 98 post-exposure (PE) to ticks. Blood sample analysis for DNA detection by the MPCR/DNA probe assay showed that Group A animals were infected with B. bovis from day 11 up to day 22 PE, requiring treatment on days 17-20. Group B animals were detected positive to B. bovis on days 17-20, did not require treatment and remained persistently infected from days 70 to 84 PE. Treatment of Group A animals delayed the infection with B. bigemina. These animals became positive to the parasite on days 63-77 PE. In contrast, Group B animals (untreated) showed B. bigemina infection on days 21-26 and 63-84 PE. One animal was positive for A. marginale infection on days 63-66 PE, the rest of the animals became so on days 80-98 PE. All infected animals required treatment with oxytetracycline. Monitoring the triple hemoparasite infection with the MPCR/DNA probe assay provided important epidemiological information. Thus, precautionary measures can be established when cattle are moved to a babesiosis/anaplasmosis risk area.
Figueroa
J V
JV
CENID-PAVET, INIFAP-SAGAR Jiutepec, Morelos, Mexico.
Alvarez
J A
JA
Ramos
J A
JA
Rojas
E E
EE
Santiago
C
C
Mosqueda
J J
JJ
Vega
C A
CA
Buening
G M
GM
D000709:Anaplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000712:Anaplasmosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016793:Babesia bovis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013987:Ticks / Q000469:parasitology; D014186:Transportation
D010118:Oxytetracycline