Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

qPCR estimates of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection levels in beef cattle and Rhipicephalus microplus larvae

  • Published:
Experimental and Applied Acarology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Babesia spp. are tick-transmitted intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasites that infect wild and domestic animals. Babesia bovis and B. bigemina are endemic and responsible for enormous economic losses to the livestock industry in most of the Brazilian territory, wherein the tick Rhipicephalus microplus is the unique vector. Better understanding of epidemiology and parasite–host interactions may improve the tools for disease control and genetic management for selection of resistant animals. This study aimed to detect, quantify and measure the correlation between B. bigemina and B. bovis infection levels in bovine blood and into tick, by absolute quantification of hemoparasite DNA using qPCR. Blood bovine samples and larvae pools from 10 engorged R. microplus females were collected from each Canchim heifers (5/8 Charolais + 3/8 zebu, n = 36). All evaluated samples were positive for both Babesia species tested. Correlations of B. bovis and B. bigemina levels between cattle and tick host were 0.58 and 0.66, respectively. These high positive correlation coefficients indicate that parasitemia load in the bovine may be dependent on or may determine the parasitemia load in the ticks.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bilhassi TB, Oliveira HN, Ibelli AMG, Giglioti R, Regitano LCA, Oliveira-Sequeira TCG, Bressani FA, Malagó W, Resende FD, Oliveira MCS (2014) Quantitative study of Babesia bovis infection in beef cattle fromSão Paulo state, Brazil. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 5:234–238

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bock R, Jackson L, De Vos A, Jorgensen W (2004) Babesiosis of cattle. Parasitology 129:S247–S269

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown WC, Palmer GH (1999) Designing blood-stage vaccines against Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina. Parasitol Today 15:275–281

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buling A, Criado-Fornelio A, Asenzo G, Benitez D, Barba-Carretero JC, Florin-Christensen M (2007) A quantitative PCR assay for the detection and quantification of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. Vet Parasitol 147:16–25

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cafrune MM, Aguirre DH (1995) Experimental studies of the rate of infection of Boophilus microplus eggs with Babesia bovis. Res Vet Sci 58:284–285

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calder JAM, Reddy GR, Chieves L, Courtney CH, Littell R, Livengood JR, Norval RAI, Smith G, Dame JB (1996) Monitoring Babesia bovis in cattle using PCR-based tests. J Clin Microbiol 34:2748–2755

    PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • CFSPH (Center for Food Security and Public Health) (2008) Bovine babesiosis. Iowa State University, Ames

    Google Scholar 

  • Giglioti R, Oliveira HN, Santana CH, Ibelli AMG, Néo TA, Bilhassi TB, Rabelo MD, Machado RZ, Brito LG, Oliveira MCS (2016) Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection levels estimated by qPCR in Angus cattle from an endemic area of São Paulo state, Brazil. Ticks Tick-Borne Dis 7:657–662

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Giglioti R, Oliveira HN, Ibelli AMG, Bilhassi TB, Néo TA, Santana CH, Rabelo MD, Machado RZ, Chagas ACS, Oliveira MCS (2017) Neither quantification by qPCR nor quantitative Elisa can be used to discriminate Angus cattle for resistance/susceptibility to Babesia bovis. Ticks Tick-Borne Dis 8(3):335–340

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Giglioti R, Oliveira HN, Bilhassi TB, Portilho AI, Okino CH, Marcondes CR, Oliveira MCS (2018) Estimates of repeatability and correlations of hemoparasites infection levels for cattle reared in endemic areas for Rhipicephalus microplus. Vet Parasitol 250:78–84

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gohil S, Susann H, Svenja G, Brian MC (2013) Bovine babesiosis in the 21st century: advances in biology and functional genomics. Int J Parasitol 43:125–132

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howell JM, Ueti MW, Palmer GH, Scoles GA, Knowles DP (2007a) Transovarial transmission efficiency of Babesia bovis tick stages acquired by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus during acute infection. J Clin Microbiol 45(2):426–431

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Howell JM, Ueti MW, Palmer GH, Scoles GA, Knowles DP (2007b) Persistently infected calves as reservoirs for acquisition and transovarial transmission of Babesia bovis by Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. J Clin Microbiol 45(10):3155–3159

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ica A, Vatansever Z, Yildirim A, Duzlu O, Inci A (2007) Detection of Theileria and Babesia species in ticks collected from cattle. Vet Parasitol 148:156–160

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler RH, Madruga CR, Schenk MA, Ribeiro OC (1983) Babesiose cerebral por Babesia bovis em bezerros no Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul. Pesqui Agropecu Bras 18:931–935

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahoney DF, Mirre GB (1971) Bovine babesiosis: estimation of infection rates in the tick vector Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). Ann Trop Med Parasitol 65:309–317

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira MCS, Oliveira-Sequeira TCG, Araujo JP Jr, Amarante AFT, Oliveira HN (2005) Babesia spp. infection in Boophilus microplus engorged female and eggs in São Paulo State, Brazil. Vet Parasitol 130:61–67

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira MCS, Oliveira-Sequeira TCG, Regitano LCA, Alencar MM, Néo TA, Silva AM, Oliveira HN (2008) Detection of Babesia bigemina in cattle of different genetic groups and in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus tick. Vet Parasitol 155:281–286

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira-Sequeira TCG, Oliveira MCS, Araujo-Júnior JP, Amarante AFT (2005) PCR-based detection of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina in their natural host Boophilus microplus and cattle. Int J Parasitol 35:105–111

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Radostits OM, Gay CC, Hinchcliff KW, Constable PD (2008) Diseases associated with protozoa, 10th edn. In: Veterinary medicine: a textbook of diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats. Saunders Elsevier, 1483–1540

  • Ramos CAN, Araújo FR, Souza IIF, Bacanelli G, Luiz HL, Russi LS, Oliveira RHM, Soares CO, Rosinha GMS, Alves LC (2011) Real-time polymerase chain reaction based on msa2c gene for detection of Babesia bovis. Vet Parasitol 176:79–83

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Riek R (1964) The life cycle of Babesia bigemina (Smith and Kilborne, 1893) in the tick vector Boophilus microplus (Canestrini). Aust J Agric Res 15:802–821

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Statistical Analyses System—SAS, 2002. SAS/INSIGHT user’s guide, version 9 1.3, Version to Windows. SAS Institute, CD-ROM, Cary

  • Uilenberg G (1995) International collaborative research: significance of tick-borne hemoparasitic diseases to world animal health. Vet Parasitol 57(1–3):19–41

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vidotto O, Andrade GM, Amaral CHS, Barbosa CS, Freire RL, Rocha MA, Vidotto MC (1997) Frequência de anticorpos contra Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis e Anaplasma marginale em rebanhos leiteiros da região de Londrina, Paraná. Arq Bras de Med Veterinária e Zootec 49:655–659

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research project was supported by the São Paulo State Research Support Foundation (FAPESP) (Grant #2013/20513-5, 2016/07216-7) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa SEG 02.12.02.008.00.00).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Estadual Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Unesp Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil

    Rodrigo Giglioti & Henrique Nunes de Oliveira

  2. Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste, Rodovia Washington Luiz, Km 234, CP 339, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13560-970, Brazil

    Cintia Hiromi Okino & Márcia Cristina de Sena Oliveira

Authors
  1. Rodrigo Giglioti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Henrique Nunes de Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cintia Hiromi Okino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Márcia Cristina de Sena Oliveira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rodrigo Giglioti.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Giglioti, R., de Oliveira, H.N., Okino, C.H. et al. qPCR estimates of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina infection levels in beef cattle and Rhipicephalus microplus larvae. Exp Appl Acarol 75, 235–240 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-018-0260-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-018-0260-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation