title: Molecular and serological prevalence of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in cattle from central region of Syria.
abstract: A total of 207 bovine blood samples were collected from clinically healthy cattle bred in central region of Syria and examined by Giemsa-stained blood smears, nested PCR, ELISA, and IFAT to determine the molecular and serological prevalence of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. All samples were negative to Babesia spp. by microscopic examination of blood smears. On the other hand, the overall prevalence of B. bovis and B. bigemina was 9.18% and 15.46% by nPCR, 15.46% and 18.84% by ELISA, and 18.36% and 21.74% by IFAT, respectively. Mixed infections were detected in a total of 5 samples (2.4%) by nPCR, 16 (7.73%) by ELISA and 27 (13.04%) by IFAT. Statistically significant differences in the prevalence of the two infections were observed on the basis of age and location. These data provide valuable information regarding the occurrence and epidemiology of B. bovis and B. bigemina infections in Syrian cattle, which can be employed in developing rational strategies for disease control and management.
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Inada-cho, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Mohamad Alaa
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Terkawi
authors.forename: Hend
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alhasan
authors.forename: Nguyen Xuan
authors.initials: NX
authors.lastname: Huyen
authors.forename: Amin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabagh
authors.forename: Karam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awier
authors.forename: Shinuo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Youn-Kyoung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Goo
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aboge
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: Abdul Karim
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kalb-Allouz
authors.forename: Darem
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tabbaa
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Igarashi
authors.forename: Xuenan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013593:Syria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan