Health importance of babesiosis infection in dairy cattle

Abstract

Babesiosis is haemoparasitic disease that transmitted by tick vector and have major importance for both human and animals. The study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of Babebiosis infection in dairy cattle and to identify the most infected areas to reduce the possibility of disease outbreak with evaluate interleukin- 6 expression (IL-6). Current study investigate babesiosis infection in 80 dairy cattle (20 control and 60 case) with different breeds and ages more than one year, distributed in surrounding regions of Baghdad Province which including Al-Tajy (North), Al-Duora (South), Abu-Graib(West) and Al-Nahraowan(East) for a period lasted from November/2022 to January 2023. Blood samples (3ml) were collected from the vein in the tail using gel tube, anti babesia IgG and IgM Antibodies were detected in order to determine the acute or chronic infection using enzyme-linked Immunosorbent assays (ELISA). On the other hand, expression of IL-6 was taken into account because of its diagnostic importance. The total incidence rate recorded 51.25% (41/80) with 51.2% for acute cases and 48.8% for chronic cases. Highly significant difference P<0.001 demonstrated in the levels of anti babesia antibodies between the study and control groups. According to the regions, the highest infection rate observed in Nahraowan (86.7%) followed by Al- Dora (73.3%) then Al-Tajy (60%) and finally Abu-Graib (53.3%). The acute cases reached the highest level in Al-Nahraowan (72.7%), followed by Al-Tajy (45.5%) and finally each of Al- Dora, Abu- Graib(36.4%), while chronic cases recorded the highest percentage in Al-Dora (63.6%), followed by Al-Nahraowan (45.5%) and finally each of Al-Tajy and Abu- Graib(36.4%). Highly significant differences was shown in the expression of IL-6 among studied group. In conclusions, babesiosis was largely present among dairy cattle in Nahraowan and Al-Duora, The infection has a clear effect on immunity through significantly elevated of inflammatory interleukin IL-6, it is necessary to highlight and raise awareness about the importance and risks of infections for limited and control.