Prevalence of blood parasites of some farm animals at Behera Province

Abstract EN

Farm animals especially (cattle, buffaloes and sheep) are the main source for meat and milk prodution in Egypt.

blood parasites are one of the most important and serious pathogenic protozoal disease, caused by Babesia and Theileria species which infest these animals.

The aim of present work is to investigate the prevalence of blood parasites in some animals (cattle, buffaloes and sheep) by blood film examination.

we examined 800 animals (300 cattle, 2oo buffaloes and 300 sheep) aged from < one year till > 3 years in period of April 2011 to March 2012.

At Behera province.

Using thin blood smears, stained with Giemsa stain and examined under microscope.

It was found that 130 out of 300 (43.

3 %), 40 out of 200 (20 %) and 117 out of 300 (39%) cattle , buffaloes and sheep were positive by microscopic examination.

Then the incidence of Babesia spp.

in cattle, buffaloes and sheep by blood film examination were 19.33 % .9 % and 17%.

while the incidence of Theileria Spp.

in cattle , buffaloes and sheep by blood examination were 23 % , 10 % and 20 % .

Mixed infection by Babesia spp and Theileria spp were 1 % , 1 % and 2 % in cattle, buffaloes and sheep.

Regarding the prevalence rate of infection in relation to age, high incidence of both parasites Babesia spp.

andTheileria spp.

at (2 -3 years) were 28 %,16 % and 25% in cattle, buffaloes and sheep positive for Babesia spp.

and were 30 %,18 % and 28 % in cattle, buffaloes and sheep positive for Theileria spp.

by Giemsa stained blood smears examination.

The peak of incidence of the blood parasites was noticed in Summer and Spring months.