Cases of bovine anaplasmosis, babesiosis and trypanosomiasis registered at INTA Rafaela (2012 to 2019)

Abstract

Bovine anaplasmosis, babesiosis and trypanosomiasis are diseases of economic importance caused by Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bovis and/or B. bigemina, and Trypanosoma vivax, respectively. In this work, protocols received during 2012-2019 in the laboratory of hemoparasites of the EEA Rafaela with a presumptive diagnosis of one of these three diseases were analyzed. The confirmatory diagnosis was made by microscopic observation of the causal agent. Clinical signs and results of serological and molecular tests were used as complementary information. Association between cases of anaplasmosis (dependent variable), the season of the year and area with or without the presence of Rhipicephalus microplus (independent variables) was analyzed with a generalized linear model using a binomial distribution. 50% of the protocols came from Santa Fe. Confirmatory diagnosis was achieved in 48% (213/441) of the protocols, of which 73% were positive for anaplasmosis, 16% for babesiosis and 11% for trypanosomiasis. In the R. microplus free area, 55 cases of anaplasmosis were recorded. The proportion of anaplasmosis cases was significantly higher in autumn compared to summer (p<0.05). No significant differences were observed when anaplasmosis cases, the season of the year and area were analyzed together. The occurrence of anaplasmosis cases in areas considered naturally free of the disease confirms its expansion. Outbreaks of bovine babesiosis occurred in areas with R. microplus. Bovine trypanosomiasis is also an expanding disease and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hemoparasitic diseases.