SEROPREVALENCE OF 2 BABESIA SPP ISOLATES IN SELECTED BIGHORN SHEEP (OVIS-CANADENSIS) AND MULE DEER (ODOCOILEUS-HEMIONUS) POPULATIONS IN CALIFORNIA

Sera from 111 bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and 95 mule deer (Odocoi leus hemionus) were tested using an indirect immunofluorescence assay for antibodies to two isolates of Babesia spp. recently obtained from these hosts in California (USA). The study populations were from six l ocations: three areas of real or potential sympatry of bighorn sheep a nd deer, one area with deer only, and two areas with bighorn sheep onl y. Antibody titers from seroreactive individuals were similar with bot h babesial isolate antigens (P < 0.05), and seroprevalence was highest in the areas of host sympatry. A moderate to high seroprevalence (gre ater than or equal to 30%) in some of the study populations was eviden ce that babesial parasites may be common in bighorn sheep and mule dee r in some areas of California.