Detection of bovine babesiosis infections in water buffaloes of tina by nested PCR and Immunoblot

FERRERI L; BENITEZ D; ALCARAZ, E.; RODRIGUEZ, A; DOMINGUEZ, M; ASENZO, G; WILKOWSKY, S; FLORIN-CHRISTENSEN, M.

Montevideo, Uruguay

Simposio; 12º Simposio Internacional de la Asociación Mundial de Laboratorios de Diagnóstico Veterinario (WAVLD); 2005

Asociación Mundial de Laboratorios de Diagnóstico Veterinario (WAVLD)

DETECTION OF BOVINE BABESIOSIS INFECTIONS IN water buffaloes OF ARGENTINA BY NESTED PCR AND IMMUNOBLOT FERRERI, L.1, BENITEZ, D.2, ALCARAZ, E.2, RODRIGUEZ, A.1, DOMINGUEZ, M.1, ASENZO, G.1, WILKOWSKY, S.1, FLORIN-CHRISTENSEN, M.1 1. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronomicas (CICVyA), INTA-Castelar, Los Reseros y Las Cabañas, 1712 Castelar, Argentina. mflorin@cicv.inta.gov.ar 2. EEA-Mercedes, INTA, Corrientes, Argentina Water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) have become increasingly popular as alternative cattle in South America, due to their high adaptability to harsh conditions, such as poor pastures and floodable lands. In addition, advantages of their exploitation include their meat with lower fat content, and a richer milk, very suitable for cheese production. In Argentina, most buffaloes are raised in Northeastern tick-endemic areas, many times sharing the same facilities with cows. Sanitary controls for these animals are still insufficient and there is scarce information about diseases that affect them. We have analyzed blood and serum samples of water buffaloes from different regions of Corrientes, a NE Argentine province, to study the incidence of bovine babesiosis in these animals. The presence of antibodies against Babesia bovis or B. bigemina in sera was assessed by immunoblots, using recombinant forms of Merozoite Surface Antigen 2-c (MSA-2c) or rhoptry associated protein 1a (RAP-1a), respectively, two immunodominant and highly conserved antigens. Nested Multiplex PCR detected the presence of B. bovis and B. bigemina parasites in some of the blood samples after DNA extraction. Although clinical cases of bovine babesiosis in water buffaloes appear to be rare, our results show that these animals can act as B. bovis and B. bigemina carriers. It would therefore be advisable to increase the awareness of farmers, so that buffaloes are included in the currently employed strategies for the control of ticks and tick-borne diseases in the region. (Supported by grants from ANPCyT, Argentina: PICT2002-00054 and PICTO 08-12920)  Key words: bovine babesiosis – water buffaloes – nested PCR - immunoblot