A PCR based survey of Babesia ovata in cattle from various Asian, African and South American countries.

Babesia ovata is a tick-transmitted hemoprotozoan parasite that infects cattle. In our study, bovine blood samples (n=2,034) were collected from 10 different countries (Brazil, China, Ghana, Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) and DNA extracted. The DNA samples were screened using an established and specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the Apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA-1) gene. Parasite DNA was detected among samples collected from Japan, Mongolia and Thailand. Sequence analyses confirmed that the PCR assay detected only B. ovata AMA-1, and that amplicons from different geographical locations were conserved. Our findings highlight the importance of designing adequate strategies to control B. ovata infection in Japan, Mongolia, and Thailand.