Comparison of indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) with complement fixation (CF) tests for diagnosis of Babesia spp infections in Colombian cattle.

A total of 372 serum samples were collected from Colombian cattle before and during the course of natural Babesia spp. infection on the North Coast of Colombia. The serum samples were used to compare indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) with complement fixation (CF) tests for diagnosis of babesiosis. The IFA technique detected Babesia argentina antibodies an average of 4.0 weeks earlier than the CF test and Babesia bigemina an average of 2.5 weeks earlier. Both IFA and CF were capable of differentiating B. argentina and B. bigemina infections, however in some cases cross reactions were observed. In general IFA titers were at relatively high levels of 1:640 to 1:5120 in comparison with CF titers of trace to 1:80. In cases of mortality due to babesiosis, both IFA and CF serologic techniques were very useful in indicating the cause of death. Although both IFA and CF are laboratory tests, the IFA technique had advantages over the CF in simplicity, economy and speed of performance.