Serological prevalence of bovine babesiosis in Mali

A serological survey of cattle in Mali was carried out to determine the prevalence of antibody activity to Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. It was found that the level of B. bovis infection as indicated by antibody activities was too low to be of immediate concern. However, the serological prevalence of B. bigemina was high and this may indicate a potential disease problem. It was also found that when zebu and N'Dama cattle grazed together the N'Dama were twice as likely to have positive titres to Babesia as were the zebus.