Tehran University of Medical Sciences Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases 2322-1984 10 2 2016 05 05 259 267 EN Amrita Sharma Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India Lachhman Das Singla Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India Ashuma * Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India Balvinder Kaur Batth Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India Paramjit Kaur Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India 2015 11 14 2015 11 14 Background: Present investigation is based on the clinicopatho-biochemical alteration related to natural tick borne bovine babesiosis in Punjab state. Methods: Blood samples from jugular vein of 542 bovines (cattle 466 and buffaloes 76) having history of tick in­festation, fever, hemoglobinurea or anemia were collected and tested for Babesia bigemina by blood smear examina­tion and PCR targeting 18S rRNA gene to distinguish clinically and subclinically infected groups. Further the hemato-biochemical parameters were correlated with the status of infection. Results: Overall, of the 542 samples tested 16.42 % were positive by PCR while only 1.66 % by blood smear exami­nation. The trend of molecular prevalence was found to decrease from north-eastern towards western Punjab. Analy­sis of the hematobiochemical alterations showed significant decrease in the levels of RBC, Hb, PCV, and MCV with significant increase in TBIL, MCH and MCHC levels. Conclusion: As the transmission of B. bigemina is transovarian, presence of even few infected Rhipicephalus (Booph­ilus) microplus ticks on a subclinically infection can be the nidus of infection for whole herd, causing severe economic losses, at the same time significantly affecting the physiology of carrier animal. https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/view/322 https://jad.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jad/article/download/322/281