African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (4), pp. 292-302, April 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Review

Molecular approaches to detect and study the organisms causing bovine tick borne diseases:  babesiosis and anaplasmosis

Ala Lew* and Wayne Jorgensen

Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries, c/o Locked Mail Bag No. 4 Moorooka 4105 QLD, Australia.

*Corresponding author. Tel: +617 3362 9502. Fax: +617 3362 9429. E-mail: Ala.Lew@dpi.qld.gov.au.

Accepted 24 February, 2004

This review will summarise the molecular approaches used to detect and analyse the genomes of Babesia bovis, B. bigemina and Anaplasma marginale which cause bovine babesiosis and anaplasmosis. These tick borne diseases are widely distributed in Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America and for example, have been estimated to have an economic impact of US$15.9, $6.9, $6.2, $2.8, $22 million per annum in Australia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and South Africa, respectively (McLeod and Kristjanson, 1999).  The development and uptake of molecular tools to study these pathogens are reviewed to highlight potential directions for future research.

Key words: Review, Babesia, Anaplasma, molecular detection, phylogeny, gene analysis.