Seroprevalence of Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale in domestic animals of district Ganderbal

Abstract

The present study of seroprevalence of B. bigemina and A. marginale in cattle, sheep and goats was studied in Ganderbal district of Kashmir, between January to December 2012. A total of 153 blood samples were collected randomly from 40 cattle, 52 sheep and 61 goats for the preparation of blood smears and serum samples in four consecutive seasons and tested against B. bigemina and A. marginale using the SVANOVIR ® B. bigemina -Abs and A. marginale -Abs ELISA Kit. Samples were also examined by Giemsa's stained blood smear method. The effect of topography, season, age, gender and breed was observed in cattle during this study. The overall prevalence of B. bigemina infection was 3 (7.5%), 2 (3.84%) and 3 (4.91%) in cattle, sheep and goats and for A. marginale 2 (5%), 1 (1.92%) and1 (1.63%) respectively. The mixed infections between B. bigemina and A. marginale were 5% in cattle, 1.92% in sheep and 3.27% in goats. The seasonal prevalence of B.bigemina , A. marginale and mixed infection between them peaked in summer as revealed by blood smear examination and ELISA.