Diagnóstico de prevalencia y factores de riesgo asociados a la babesiosis bovina en el cantón El Carmen 2023.

Abstract

The present study was carried out in cattle farms located in El Carmen canton, Manabí province, characterized by a humid tropical climate and agroecological conditions conducive to the proliferation of diseases. The general objective was to diagnose the prevalence and risk factors associated with bovine Babesiosis in the canton of El Carmen 2023. A descriptive experimental design was used, where 96 farms were evaluated and a total of 906 bovine blood samples were collected to determine the presence of the Babesia parasite. The independent variables included knowledge of the disease, the presence of ectoparasites and their control, while the dependent variables focused on the prevalence of Babesiosis and associated risk factors. The results revealed a total prevalence of 54.16% in the farms evaluated, with significant variations between parishes, with Paraíso 14 having the highest infection rate (66.67%) and Santa María the lowest (33.33%). In addition, risk factors such as lack of adequate ectoparasite control and poor knowledge of the disease among cattle farmers were identified, contributing to the high prevalence of Babesiosis in the region. These findings underscore the need to implement control and education measures to mitigate the impact of this disease on animal health.