Abstract

Tick-borne haemoprotozoans are the major hindrance to the health and productive efficiency of bovidae, leading to substantial losses in the livestock industry on a global scale. The current study investigated the molecular epidemiology of haemoprotozoans and associated risk factors in the cattle of District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. Risk factors data was recorded on a structured questionnaire, and cattle blood samples (n = 350) were taken for microscopy and PCR assay. Partial sequences were targeted: 16S rRNA, protein-4 gene, and cytochrome b oxidase I for the detection of Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria, respectively. Microscopy detected haemoprotozoans in 141/350 cases (40.2%) compared to PCR, which detected 102/350 (29.1%), showing a significant difference (P = 0.002). Microscopically, Anaplasma, Theileria, Babesia, and co-infection (Theileria and Anaplasma) were found in 46 (13.1%), 39 (11.1%), 35 (10%) and 21 (6%) samples, respectively. Microscopically-declared negative (209, 59.7%) and positive (39, 11.14%) samples were negative on PCR; however, microscopically-declared positive samples were positive on PCR (102, 29.14%), showing the amplification of 611 bp, 907 bp and 311 bp for Anaplasma, Babesia, and Theileria, respectively. Risk factors, including age, host breed, tick-infestation history, feeding management, location, and month-wise distribution, were significantly associated with the tick-borne haemoprotozoan infection (< 0.05). Haemoprotozoans were highly prevalent in Tehsil Behrain (microscopy: 64%; PCR: 46%) and the least infection was found in the cattle of Barikot (microscopy: 12%; PCR: 10%). The infection reached its peak from June to August, exhibiting a strong correlation with rising temperature. The current study confirmed the significant prevalence of tick-borne haemoprotozoans in District Swat, highlighting the importance of the government developing policies to rule out the burden and distribution of haemoprotozoan infection and improve animal and public health.