Investigation on Babesia, Theileria and Anaplasma species circulating in cattle and associated ticks in selected areas of Northern and Southern Benin.

This study investigated the circulation of Babesia, Theileria, and Anaplasma species in cattle and associated ticks across selected sites of Northern and Southern Benin. Between June 2021 and March 2022, blood samples from 81 cattle and 2311 specimens of ticks were collected. Blood samples and a selected number of ticks (n = 245) were analysed using molecular methods. Anaplasma spp. showed the highest prevalence in cattle (75.3%), with phylogenetic analysis suggesting the co-circulation of multiple species, including clusters related to Anaplasma platys, Anaplasma marginale, Anaplasma ovis, and Anaplasma boleense. Theileria velifera was the most widely circulating species (58.0%) in blood, while Theileria mutans occurred only in Southern Benin (8.7%). No Babesia species were found in cattle blood. However, Babesia bigemina DNA was detected in Rhipicephalus microplus and Hyalomma rufipes ticks. Among the collected ticks, Amblyomma variegatum and R. microplus were the preponderant species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that circulating Theileria and Babesia strains clustered with reference sequences from multiple African countries, suggesting regional connectivity and possible long-distance dissemination driven by animal movement. The findings highlight the widespread presence of competent tick vectors, and the importance of systematic surveillance to support effective control strategies and mitigate the impact on cattle health and productivity.