干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

The objective of this sero-epidemiological survey is to determine the prevalences of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina infections in cattle from the North of the Tunisia (12 villages). The serum antibodies specifically targeted against parasite antigens were investigated using indirect immunofluorescent assays in 345 cattle (311 females and 34 males, 44 young (< 1 year old) animals and 301 adults) belonging to local species (n = 139). European species (n = 106) or crossbreds (n = 100). Globally, 72.2% animals were positive for one protozoan, the B. bovis seroprevalence (56.5%) being significantly higher than the B. bigemina one (41.4%) and 25.8% of cattle were positive for the both babesias. Moreover, young cattle (34.1%) were significantly less exposed than adults (77.7%) and the infection risk also appeared significantly lower for European species than for local species. The observed seroprevalences did not significantly vary according the bioclimatic zones because of the great heterogeneity of the infection rates accordingly villages, mainly in sub-humid and semi-arid areas for B. bovis and in humid and sub-humid areas for B. bigemina. These results demonstrate the great seroprevalence of babesias in the North of Tunisia which is strongly linked to the local breeding practice.