Detection of Babesia Bigemina in cattle of different genetic group and in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus tick.

• Autor(a) principal: OLIVEIRA, Márcia Cristina de Sena.
• Data de Publicação: 2008
• Outros Autores: OLIVEIRA-SEQUEIRA, Teresa Cristina Goulart de., REGITANO, Luciana Correia de Almeida., ALENCAR, Mauricio Mello de., NÉO, Thalita Athiê., SILVA, Ana Mary., OLIVEIRA, Henrique Nunes de.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Biblioteca Digital de Teses e Dissertações da UFCG
• Texto Completo: http://dspace.sti.ufcg.edu.br:8080/jspui/handle/riufcg/36131
• topic: Parasitologia veterinária; Beef catle; Bovinos; Babesia bigemina; Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus tick; Carrapato do boi; Veterinary parasitology; Beef cattle; Cattle; Ox tick; Saúde Animal.; Zootecnia.

Babesia bigemina infections were investigated in four genetic groups of beef cattle and in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus engorged female ticks. Blood samples and engorged female ticks were collected from 15 cows and 15 calves from each of the following genetic groups: Nelore, Angus Nelore, Canchim Nelore, and Simmental Nelore. Microscopic examination of blood smears and tick hemolymph revealed that merozoites of B. bigemina (6/60) as well as kinetes of Babesia spp. (9/549) were only detected in samples (blood and ticks, respectively) originated from calves. PCR-based methods using primers for specific detection of B. bigemina revealed 100% infection in both calves and cows, regardless the genetic group. Tick infection was detected by nested-PCR amplifications showing that the frequency of B. bigemina was higher (P < 0.01) in female ticks collected from calves (134/549) than in those collected from cows (52/553). The frequency of B. bigemina was similar in ticks collected from animals, either cows or calves, of the four genetic groups (P > 0.05).