Comparison of the dried blood on filter paper and serum techniques for the diagnosis of bovine babesiosis utilizing the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test.

A comparison between the techniques of dried blood on filter paper and serum for the diagnosis of babesiosis utilizing the indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test was evaluated. Dried blood on filter paper was used as a method to detect B. bigemina and B. argentina antibodies of Colombian cattle under laboratory and field conditions and the technique was compared with the serum of the same animals. A high relationship was found between the results of the dried blood and the serum from calves experimentally infected with Babesia spp. and calves from enzootic hemoparasites-free zones in Colombia. There were no significant differences in the sensitivity and specificity of both techniques. The samples on filter paper could be practical for field use due to their easy management and storage at different temperatures. This indicates that the use of dried blood may be a valuable aid for the epizootiologic studies of Babesia spp. infections in bovines.