[Investigation of Babesia in farm workers and blood donors in the province of Ciego de Avila].

A descriptive study of cases was conducted in which 781 sera were investigated using the indirect immunofluorescent technique with antigens of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina at the National Center for Agricultural Health. Of them, 371 came from agricultural workers and 410 from donors in the province of Ciego de Avila. It was started from dilutions of 1/64. An epidemiological survey was done to each seropositive so as to know the risk factors. The test of difference of proportions was used to compare the percentages of positives. The geometrical means were calculated in both group and they were compared with the U test of Mann Whitney. Among the agricultural workers it was detected 7% with antibodies against 3.9% of the donors (p < 0.05). It was found a greater circulation of Babesia bovis than of Babesia bigemina.