Untersuchungen zum Zeckenbefall und zur Prävalenz von Borrelia burgdorferi sowie Babesia divergens beim Rind im bayerischen Voralpenland

During the year 2002 319 cattle from 31 farms (6 districts) of southern Bavaria were investigated for the presence of ticks during the grazing period and 287 serum samples were tested for the presence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi and Babesia divergens. Ticks were detected in all 31 farms and the mean prevalence was 69 %. 3218 out of 3453 collected ticks were Ixodes ricinus. 139 nymphs, 19 larvae and 77 damaged adult specimens could only be determined to the Genus level (Ixodes). The seasonal pattern revealed the highest frequencies of ticks in May/June and September. The intensity of the infestation of the 221 positive animals was generally low. 76,5 % of parasitized individuals had 1-6 ticks/cattle and day of investigation. By contrast, individuals on pastures with appropriate tick-habitats showed up to 250 ticks/cattle and day of investigation. The percentage of infested animals in each herd varied within the period between 0 100 %. The investigation of 287 serum samples for the presence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi by immunfluorescence techniques (IFAT), revealed antibody-titers ≥ 1:64 for 45,6 % of the animals. 27 of 31 farms showed prevalences of Borrelia burgdorferi ranging from 20 to 100 %. There were no significant differences of positive cattle between the various areas. However, a significant correlation could be detected between the number of ticks per cattle and the antibody concentration of anti-Borrelia IgG. By contrast, there was no significant correlation between the age of the animals and the serum antibody-titers. For comparative reasons, 64 IFAT-positive serum samples were tested by Westernblot techniques for the presence of antibodies cross-reacting with Borrelia garinii antigens. These analyses revealed that 69 % of the samples reacted positively, 28 % were unclear and 3 % were negative. The investigation of the 287 cattle sera for Babesia divergens by means of IFAT revealed one positive animal with an antibody-titer of 1:16. Finally, in an additional enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 105 serum samples from 18 farms and 13 pooled sera including 45 cattle from the other 13 farms were tested for the presence of antibodies against Fasciola hepatica. In 96,8 % of the farms antibodies against Fasciola hepatica could be detected.

Level thesis:degree_level

thesis.doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher

Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität

Year

2004

Author dc:creator

• Lengauer, Heidi

Repository record source_url

https://edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de/2457/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:edoc.ub.uni-muenchen.de:2457