Abstract:
The geographical distribution of Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina antibodies in communal herds
in northern and eastern Zimbabwe was determined using the ELISA technique. The animals in different
herds in the study region had different levels of natural exposure to B. bovis (mean 32 %, range
0-79%) and B. bigemina (mean 52%, range 5-92%) infections. The majority of herds (90%) were
endemically unstable for B. bigemina and 62 % were unstable for B. bovis. Natural region 5 and
Manicaland province had the highest seroprevalence of B. bovis infection, while natural region 5 and
Masvingo province had the highest seroprevalence of B. bigemina infection.
