Seroprevalence of Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale in domestic animals in Erbil, Iraq

Abstract

Seroprevalence of Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale in cattle, sheep, goats and wild goats was studied in Erbil district, between January to December 2010. A total of 184 blood samples were collected from 44 cattle, 59 sheep, 70 goats and 11 wild goats for the preparation of blood smears and serum samples which tested against B. bigemina and A. marginale using the SVANOVIR®^ B. bigemina-Abs and A. marginale-Abs ELISA Kit. The overall prevalence of B. bigemina infection was 12 (27. 27%), 4 (6. 77%), 5 (7. 14%) and 1 (9. 09%) in cattle, sheep, goats and wild goats and for A. marginale 4 (9. 09%), 2 (3. 38%), 3 (4. 28%) and 1 (9. 09%) respectively. The co-infections between B. bigemina and A. marginale were 25% in cattle, 33. 33% in sheep, 37. 50% in goats and 50% in wild goats. The seasonal prevalence of B. bigemina, A. marginale and co-infection between them peaked in both spring and summer as revealed by blood smear examination and ELISA.