Molecular epidemiology and characterization of Babesia bovis in cattle of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan

Comparative efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate with additive in naturally infected cattle against bovine babesiosis

Babesiosis is a tick borne disease prevalent worldwide. The present study was planned to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of imidocarb dipropionate alone and with additive milk, cumin, and jetepar syrup in naturally Babesia-infected cattle. Blood samples (n = 300) were collected from the selected cattle. Age, breed, dung pile location, use of acaricides, temperature, health status, tick infestation and housing type were also considered during sample collection. Out of 90 samples that were found positive through staining procedures, 45 were confirmed through PCR. As per infection rate observed more in exotic breed, the treatment trials were conducted on these cattle. These cattle were divided into three groups, each consisting of 15 cattle. Group 1 was treated with imidocarb dipropionate. Group 2 was treated with imidocarb dipropionate and additives (milk, cumin, and jetepar syrup). Group 3 was the infected, non-medicated group, and group 4 consisted of healthy, non-infected cattle (n = 15).The cattle were subjected to liver function tests and recorded milk production before and after treatment. The afore-mentioned factorsi.e. age (<3 years), Holstein Friesian breed, with dung piles near their living area, without acaricides use, poor health status, tick infestation, and tethered housing system were found significant associated with babesiosis in the cattle. Cattle in G1 treated with imidocarb dipropionate showed an efficacy of 60 %. G2, on the other hand, showed 90 % efficacy. The cattle in G3, did not recover and two died. All cattle in G4, remained health. It was concluded that the cattle treated with imidiocarb dipropionate as well as additives showed better and rapid recovery.

Taxonomic identification and prevalence of hard ticks on different breeds of sheep from district Quetta in Balochistan, Pakistan

Ticks, being ectoparasites, are vectors for the transmission of various pathogens that can infect animals and can also pose a significant threat to human health. Due to hot and humid climatic conditions across different agro-ecological regions of Pakistan, ticks are widespread and infest a diverse range of animal species. This study aimed for taxonomic identification and prevalence determination of ticks in sheep collected from four different marketplaces in the Quetta district of Balochistan. A total of 200 sheep from six different breeds, Balochi, Harnai, Turki, Mari wal, black Shinwari-Afghani, and Kooka, were examined, and ticks were collected from their five distinct anatomical regions. The species are identified over petri-dish and under microscope using their morphological features. Out of total 200 sheep, 107 were identified to be infested by ticks with an overall prevalence of 53.50 %. The class of ≤6 month's age are more prevalent and more prone to tick infestation, with tick prevalence of 55 %. The female sheep were found more prone to tick infestation (56 %) as compared to male species (51 %). A total of 559 species were documented including H. anatolicum, R. microplus, H. rufipes, H. dromedary, R. (Boophilus) annulatus, R. decoloratus, Ixodes Pilosus, R. camicasi, R. pravus, and R. turanicum. R. decoloratus was noted in higher abundance (N; 31) at larvae stage, while H. anatolicum are more in nymph stage (N: 30); the R. (Boophilus) annulatus species are dominating the adult sage (N: 60). The amount of tick infestation also varied according to the season and month of the year: in the summer, the highest number of sheep become infected with ticks, with July having the highest frequency of tick predominance; in the winter, the lowest prevalence of ticks is found in January. The specie abundance was noted to be 559, Specie richness to be 10, and the diversity was calculated as 0.93.

Prevalence and associated risk factors of ixodid tick species infesting cattle and sheep in Balochistan, Pakistan

Tick infestation poses a serious threat to animal health, leading to significant losses in terms of vector-borne disease transmission, reduced live weight, lower quality hides, decreased milk production, and impaired reproduction in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, seasonal variation, distribution pattern, and associated risk factors of Ixodid family tick species in the cattle and sheep population of three different districts in Balochistan, Pakistan. This study employed a convenient sampling method, collecting 4080 adult ticks from 816 cattle and sheep of various breeds, ages, and sexes. Specific morphological keys were used to identify the ticks up to the genus and species level. Among cattle, the highest prevalence was recorded for R. (B) annulatus (27.01%), followed by R. (B) microplus (24.02%), and H. anatolicum (20.54%). H. dromedarii (5.29%) was the least prevalent species observed in cattle. In the sheep population, H. anatolicum (30.34%) showed the highest prevalence, followed by H. marginatium (22.99%), and R. (B) annulatus (20.88%). H. dromedarii (6.96%) was the least prevalent species observed in sheep. The prevalence of R. (B) decoloratus, H. anatolicum and H. dromedarii was found to be significantly associated (P < 0.05) with the breed, age, and sex of both cattle and sheep. However, the presence of R. (B) annulatus, R. (B) microplus and H. marginatium tick species showed no significant association (P > 0.05) with these factors. In addition, the prevalence of ticks was higher in younger, female, and crossbred Friesian cattle compared to adults, males, and other breeds. Conversely, the prevalence of ticks was higher in adult, female and Hernai breed of sheep in the studied area. In conclusion, R. (B) annulatus and H. anatolicum are the dominant tick species infesting the cattle and sheep population in Balochistan. Consequently, this study provides valuable insights for developing practical and effective control measures against ticks and tick-borne diseases in the sheep and cattle population of Balochistan, Pakistan.

Assessment of Babesia spp. prevalence in various domestic animals across Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Parasitic diseases, notably babesiosis, exert a substantial impact on the global cattle industry, posing challenges to commerce, economies, and human health. This study, conducted in Southern Punjab, Pakistan, aimed to assess the prevalence of Babesia spp. across various livestock species using microscopic and PCR methods. A total of 180 blood samples (60 from each district) were systematically collected from apparently healthy animals, with 36 samples obtained from each domestic animal species, including camel, cattle, buffalo, goat, and sheep, noting that 12 samples were collected from each district for each animal species. Overall prevalence was determined to be 32.8% (59/180), with varying rates among species: 25.0% in cattle, 41.66% in buffalo, 30.55% in goats, 33.3% in sheep, and 33.3% in camels. Microscopic examination revealed slightly varied infection rates among large and small domestic animals (22.2%), while PCR results indicated a 32.8% overall infection rate in both large and small domestic animals, with no statistical significance. District-wise analysis showed regional variations, with Muzaffargarh recording a prevalence rate of 23.33% through microscopic examination, while Lodhran and Bahawalpur recorded 21.67%. PCR results revealed higher rates (38.33%, 26.67%, and 33.33%, respectively), underlining the importance of employing PCR for accurate detection. Examining ruminant types, large ruminants exhibited a 32.4% infection rate, while small domestic animals showed 33.3%, with no significant difference (p=0.897). District-wise prevalence showcased significant variation, with Muzaffargarh demonstrating a 25% prevalence, Lodhran 22%, and Bahawalpur 22%, through microscopic examination. PCR results displayed 38.33%, 27%, and 33.3%, respectively, with no statistical significance. Detailed analysis of individual districts highlighted variations in infection rates among camels, cattle, buffalo, goats, and sheep. The binomial test indicated significant differences through microscopic analysis (P=0.011) but non-significant variations through PCR (P=0.065), emphasizing the precision of PCR. Regional variations in prevalence, notably with Punjab exhibiting the highest frequency (33.87%) and KPK the lowest (13.24%), suggest potential influences from varying veterinary practices and environmental factors. This study underscores the pivotal role of PCR alongside microscopy for accurate babesiosis diagnosis. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of babesiosis prevalence, emphasizing the necessity of advanced molecular techniques for informed control measures.