Natural hosts infected with Babesia in Fujian Province, China / 中国人兽共患病学报

ABSTRACT

We explored the status of Babesia infection in natural hosts in Fujian Province.Rodents in Fujian Province were captured by the night trapping method during 2014-2016.Heart blood samples were collected.At the same time blood samples of ox,goats and dogs were also collected,from which the fragments of 18S rRNA gene of Babesia were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Data on infection rate were analyzed with Chi-square or Fisher exact test to indicate statistical significance.Results showed that 5 917 cages were laid and 381 rodents were captured,density of rodent was 6.44％.The o verall Babesia infection rate in rodents was 7.61％,while infection rate in domesticated rodents was 1.68％,and the infection rate in wide rodents was 12.87％.The infection rate was higher in wild rodents than that in domesticated rodents,and the statistical analysis result revealed a significant difference.The infection rates in region of Central Fujian and Eastern Fujian was high,and no infection was found in Southern Fujian region.The statistical analysis result revealed a significant difference in infection rate among different regions.The infection rate of goats and dogs were determined to be 1.79 ％ and 0.55 ％,and no infection was found in ox.The infection rate was higher in rodents than that in other host animals,and the statistical analysis result revealed a significant difference.It is suggested that the rodents,especially the wide rodents are the main natural hosts of Babesia.