Department of Parasitology, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
College of Veterinary Sciences, The University of Agriculture Peshawar-Pakistan, Peshawar, Pakistan.
Trop Anim Health Prod. 2022 Oct 8;54(6):337. doi: 10.1007/s11250-022-03346-w.
Babesiosis is a tick-borne disease found globally but most prominent in tropical and subtropical regions. It is responsible for huge mortality and morbidity, especially in developing countries like Pakistan. The current study was designed to determine the molecular epidemiology and characterization of Babesia bovis (B. bovis) infection in cattle populations of districts Mardan, Kohat and Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province of Pakistan. A total of 434 tick-infested animals were sampled. Blood samples were collected, processed and then examined initially by microscopy for the presence of Babesia and were later confirmed through PCR by targeting cytochrome b gene, and the PCR products were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of sequenced isolates of the current study showed close sequence similarity with the reported strain of China. A non-significant association (p > 0.05) was observed between the prevalence of infections and risk factors. The overall prevalence of infection in all three districts was 10.11%. In district Swat (12.61%), the prevalence was recorded as the highest for B. bovis infection followed by district Mardan (10.60%) and district Kohat (06.90%). The Friesian breed of cattle, females and adult animals were highly susceptible to B. bovis infection. The prevalence of infection was recorded highest during the summer season and lowest during the winter season. This study concludes that B. bovis infection is prevalent in three studied districts of KP province and the sequenced isolates of the current study showed close sequence similarity with the reported strain of China.
巴贝斯虫病是一种全球性的蜱传疾病，但在热带和亚热带地区最为突出。它是导致高死亡率和高发病率的主要原因，尤其是在巴基斯坦等发展中国家。本研究旨在确定巴基斯坦开伯尔-普赫图赫瓦省马尔丹、科哈特和斯瓦特地区牛群中感染巴贝斯虫（B. bovis）的分子流行病学和特征。共采集了 434 只受蜱虫感染的动物样本。采集血液样本，经过处理，最初通过显微镜检查是否存在巴贝斯虫，然后通过针对细胞色素 b 基因的 PCR 进行确认，PCR 产物进行测序。本研究中测序分离株的系统发育分析显示与中国报道的菌株具有密切的序列相似性。感染的流行率与风险因素之间未观察到显著相关性（p > 0.05）。三个地区的总感染率为 10.11%。在斯瓦特地区（12.61%），巴贝斯虫感染的流行率最高，其次是马尔丹地区（10.60%）和科哈特地区（06.90%）。弗里西亚牛种、雌性和成年动物对 B. bovis 感染高度敏感。感染的流行率在夏季最高，冬季最低。本研究得出结论，B. bovis 感染在开伯尔-普赫图赫瓦省的三个研究地区流行，本研究的测序分离株与中国报道的菌株具有密切的序列相似性。
