Prevalence of babesiosis (Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina) in cattle and water buffalo in Nueva Ecija, Philippines using Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction

The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection in blood samples of cattle and water buffaloes using nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR). It also aimed to generate a spot map showing areas in Nueva Ecija, the Philippines where B. bovis and B. bigemina were detected. Whole blood samples of cattle (148) and water buffalo (65) were collected for DNA extraction and subsequent nested-PCR to detect B. bovis and B. bigemina. To further confirm and validate the nested-PCR results, three selected positive samples for each B. bovis and B. bigemina were sequenced and examined for homology analysis. The results showed that the prevalence of B. bovis, B. bigemina and mixed infection in cattle were 11.49% (17/148), 10.81% (16/148) and 5.41% (8/148), respectively. Homology analysis of nucleotide sequence of three selected DNA samples for each B. bovis showed two 99% and one 96% (partial sequence analysis) identities with B. bovis Thailand strain, while B. bigemina positive samples showed all 100% identities with B. bigemina Philippine strain. The result did not demonstrate in all water buffalo samples. These findings provide information about the prevalence of B. bovis and B. bigemina in cattle and water buffaloes in Nueva Ecija, which can be beneficial for strategic planning, disease management, and control and prevention