STUDY OF THE MAIN ABORTIVE VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES, THEILERIOSIS, BABESIOSIS AND ANAPLASMOSIS, IN CATTLE IN ALGERIA

Abstract

Cattle theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis are the most important abortive vector-borne diseases worldwide.The study aims to investigate the prevalence of cattle theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis, evaluate risk factors and estimate economic losses. Ticks were collected from each animal.This survey was performed between Jun and August 2017 on 55 dairy cattle farms of Medea region, north-central Algeria. It was concerned 103 cattle.Theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis were diagnosed in 72/103 (69.90%), 21/103 (20.38%) and 10/103 (9.70%), respectively. Cattle were revealed more infected with theileriosis (p<0.0001). Adult cattle and females were found to be the most infected with all three diseases (p<0.0001). All farms had a history of abortion and out of the 55 bovine farms, theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis were diagnosed in 55 (100%), 20 (36.36%) and 5 (9.09%) farms, respectively. The economic losses due to the treatments were evaluated at 7000 Euros. The decrease in milk production was estimated at 67%, 33% and 10% for cows with theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis respectively. A total number of 172 ticks was collected and four tick species were identified: Hyalomma scupense (48.25%), Rhipicephalus bursa (26.74%), Rhipicephalus annulatus (16.86%) and Haemaphysalis punctata (8.14%). A very high correlation was found between the incidence of theileriosis and babesiosis and cattle infestation by H. scupense and R. bursa respectively (p<0.001).This study showed that theileriosis, babesiosis and anaplasmosis in cattle were widespread in the Medea region with a predominance of theileriosis. Other studies in all the Algerian territory are necessary in order to improve the methods of surveillance, control, immunisation and eradication.