Parasitological and molecular surveys reveal high rates of infection with vector-borne pathogens and clinical anemia signs associated with infection in cattle from two important livestock areas in Colombia

In Colombia, vector-borne diseases are one of the most important problems in the livestock industry. The present study reports parasitological and molecular surveys of vector-borne pathogens in cattle from two high-value livestock areas in Colombia. A total of 464 samples (226 from Antioquia and 238 from Arauca) were analyzed. While the blood smear analysis identified 98 (21.1%), 14 (3.0%) and 30 (6.5%) positive samples for Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp. and Trypanosoma spp., respectively, the molecular methods indicated that 275 (59.3%), 146 (31.5%), 64 (13.8%), 236 (50.9%) and 43 (9.3%) of the samples were positive for Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina, Babesia bovis, Trypanosoma theileri and T. evansi, respectively. Mixed infections were detected in 250 (53.9%) samples. Interestingly, animals aged ≤1 year had higher probabilities of being infected with A. marginale and Babesia spp., and lower probabilities of being infected with Trypanosoma spp., while the animals raised under intensive system breeding had higher probabilities of being infected with all pathogens. Additionally, T. theileri infection was found in higher prevalence in anemic animals than animals with normal packed cell volume (PCV). This is the first molecular report that evaluated the infection with three genders of vector-borne pathogens in cattle in Colombia and provides useful information for a better understanding of the epidemiologic aspects, as well as for the management and control, of these diseases.