PREVALENCE AND CONTROL OF BABESIOSIS IN THE AMERICA

This review presents up-to-date information on the distribution and co ntrol measures of babesiosis in Latin America. Bovine babesiosis cause d by Babesia bovis and B. bigemia will be emphasized. The disease is e ndemic in most countries and poses a serious economic burden on livest ock production in the region (US. $1365 million/year, FAO, 1989). Of t he estimated 250 million cattle in Central and South America, approxim ately 175 million (70%) are in tick-infested regions. Humid, tropical and subtropical areas favor development of the main vector, the one-ho st tick Boophilus microplus. In many regions bovine babesiosis is enzo otically stable as a consequence of a balanced host-parasite relations hip. However, Latin America offers a wide range of epidemiologic condi tions that are influenced by variations from tropical to cool climates and by susceptible purebred cattle that are regularly imported to upg rade local stocks. The control measures employed in most countries for babesiosis essentially rely on chemotherapy, use of acaricides for B. microplus, and to a lesser degree, on immunization methods. In genera l, these measures are expensive, time consuming, and in many cases, pr ovide limited success. Finally, the zoonotic potential of babesiosis w ill be addressed, with special emphasis on the situation in the United States. Even though bovine babesiosis has long been eradicated from t he U.S.A., human babesiosis is endemic in the northeastern region of t he country.