FREQUENCY OF HEMOPARASITES OF BOVINES FROM CAUCA AND SAN JORGE RIVERS, 2000-2005

Objective. To determine the frequency of hemoparasites in bovines evaluated by direct microscopy. Materials and methods. A descriptive retrospective cross study was carried out. All the data of the last 5 years from the Lavebac laboratory was analyzed. This laboratory offers its services in the Cauca-Medio Antioqueño and the Department of Cordoba. A frequency analysis was conducted, taking into consideration the type of parasite, the type of cattle operation, origin and season. Comparative analyses using odds ratios were conducted using EPIINFO, version 3.3. Results. The frequency of hemoparasitism was 22.5%. Of these 59.3% of parasites were Anaplasma sp, 3.1% were Babesia sp and 30.9% were Trypanosoma sp. The positive diagnostics occurred more frequently in the dry season (14.9%) in which a higher frequency of infection by Anaplasma sp. was detected. Conclusions. These results allow an approximation to the frequency and distribution of Trypanosoma sp, Babesia sp and Anaplasma sp in two cattle raising regions of Colombia. A higher percentage of hemoparasite infection was found during the dry season, and Anaplasma sp was the most frequent of parasite.