Seroprevalence of bovine babesiosis around Kayseri

This study was carried out on cattle to detect the seroprevalence of babesiosis around Kayseri between July 1997 and January 1999. During this period a total of 191 cattle were examined for the Babesia species. Blood samples were collected from the cattle to obtain sera. During sampling, thick and thin blood smears were prepared from the punctured tail of each animal. Ticks were collected from the animals sampled. The sera were tested for the presence of antibodies to the Babesia species by IFAT. The blood smears were stained with 5% Giemsa's stain solution, and were examined microscopically with oil immersion. The collected ticks were kept alive and identified in the laboratory prior to dissection. After dissection, the Giemsa-stained preparations of haemolymph and ova were examined for the presence of Babesia vermicules. Antibodies against B. bigemina, B. bovis and B. divergens were detected in 44 (23.03%), 2 (1.04%) and 4 (2.09%) of the tested 191 cattle using IFAT. In the microscopic examination, B. bigemina was detected in the 13 (6.80%) of the 191 cattle. Neither B. bovis nor B. divergens were found in the 191 cattle examined microscopically. Of the 399 adult ticks examined, 229 were female. During this period, 113 nymphs were also collected from the sampled animals. The adult ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus bursa, R. turanicus, Hyalomma marginatum, H.a. excavatum, Boophilus annulatus, Dermacentor niveus, and Ornithodorus lahorensis. The engored nymphs were identified as Hyalomma spp, and Boophilus annulatus. No vermicules of Babesia were found in the smears prepared from the haemolymph and ova of the dissected ticks.