Molecular epidemiological survey of Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh infections in Mongolian cattle

Bovine babesiosis caused by Babesia species is an economically significant disease of cattle. Severe clinical babesiosis in cattle is caused by Babesia bovis, B. bigemina, and the recently discovered Babesia sp. Mymensingh. Mongolia is an agricultural country with a large cattle inventory. Although previous studies have detected active infections of B. bovis and B. bigemina in Mongolian cattle, only a few provinces were surveyed. Additionally, the endemicity of Babesia sp. Mymensingh in Mongolia remains unknown. We screened blood DNA samples from 725 cattle reared in 16 of the 21 Mongolian provinces using B. bovis-, B. bigemina-, and Babesia. sp. Mymensingh-specific PCR assays. The overall positive rates of B. bovis, B. bigemina, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh were 27.9% (n = 202), 23.6% (n = 171), and 5.4% (n = 39), respectively. B. bovis and B. bigemina were detected in cattle in all surveyed provinces; whereas Babesia sp. Mymensingh was detected in 11 of the 16 surveyed provinces. On a per province basis, the B. bovis- B. bigemina-, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh-positive rates were 5.9–52.0%, 9.1–76.3%, and 0–35.7%, respectively. In conclusion, this is the first report of Babesia sp. Mymensingh in Mongolia. In addition, we found that species of Babesia that are capable of causing bovine clinical babesiosis, including B. bovis, B. bigemina, and Babesia sp. Mymensingh, are widespread throughout the country. [Display omitted] •725 cattle from 16 Mongolian provinces were screened for Babesia species by PCR.•Babesia bovis and B. bigemina were detected in cattle from all surveyed provinces.•Recently described Babesia sp. Mymensingh was detected in 11 out of 16 provinces.•This is the first report of Babesia sp. Mymensingh in Mongolia.•Cattle populations throughout Mongolia are at risk for clinical babesiosis.