Life Science Journal 2013;10(10s) http://www.lifesciencesite.com 188 Epidemiology and Molecular Detection of Babesiosis in Household Dairies in Districts Kohat and Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan Sultan Ayaz 1 , Sumaira Shams 1 , Mohammad A. T. Abdel-Reheem 2, 3 , Sanuallah khan 1 , Riaz Ullah 4 1 Department of Zoology, Kohat University of Science & Technology Kohat, 26000, Pakistan 2 Research Center, College of Science, King Saud University Riyadh, Saudi Arabia 3 Biochemistry Department Faculty of Agriculture Ain Shams University Egypt 4 Department of Chemistry Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan Corresponding author afridiriaz@yahoo.com Abstract: Back ground; Babesiosis is economically important disease which causing huge mortality and morbidity to the livestock sector particularly in the under developed countries including Pakistan. Result; A total of 2400 Cattle blood samples (1200 Calves and 1200 Cows) were examined through PCR and microscopy in karak and kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The overall prevalence of Babesiosis in cattle was found 9.875% (237/2400) by microscopic technique which were followed by district Karak 9.25 % (111/1200) and district Kohat 10.5 % (126/1200).The highest seasonal prevalence of Babesiosis was recorded in the summer 20.375% (163/800) followed by spring 9% (36/400), autumn 7.25% (29/400) and the lowest was seen in the winter 1.125% (9/800). In the present study, female cattle showed high prevalence 11.22% (184/1639) rate of Babesiosis as compare to male cattle 6.96% (53/761). The PCR based Prevalence rate of Babesiosis was found 27.5% (165/600) among this 24% (72/300) prevalence rate was noted in district Karak and 31% (93/300) in district Kohat. Babesia bovis 541bp and Babesia bigemina 1124bp amplified DNAs were visualized through gel electrophoresis. Conclusion; It is revealed from the present study that PCR was more sensitive than microscopy in diagnosis of the Babesiosis in House hold dairy cattle [Sultan Ayaz, Sumaira Shams, Mohammad A. T. Abdel-Reheem, Sanuallah khan , Riaz Ullah. Epidemiology and Molecular Detection of Babesiosis in Household Dairies in Districts Kohat and Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan, Life Sci J 2013;10(10s):188-193] (ISSN:1097-8135). http://www.lifesciencesite.com . 29 Key words: PCR, Microscopy, Babesiosis and house hold dairy 1. Introduction Babesiosis is an important andfatal disease of cattle caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. It is an economically important disease which causing huge mortality and morbidity to the livestock sector particularly in the under developed countries including Pakistan. The disease is transmitted through ticks in cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats world widely, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions. Babesiosis is the second most common blood-borne parasitic disease of mammals after the trypanosome [1, 2, 3, 4].More than 100 species of Babesia have been recognized morphologically which infect wide groups of animals. Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina are more important and vastly predominant in tropical and subtropical countries causes huge losses to the livestock industry [5, 6, 7]. Babesiosis causes about 90% deaths in cattle when they were not provided health facilities [8, 9] while it was reported that Babesiosis causes 30% deaths in cows and 70-80% in sheep [10]. In several countries of the world including Asia, Australia, Africa, South and Central America and United States the occurrence of Babesiosis in cattle is about 1.2 billion [11, 12] while Niaziet al (2008) reported 5.5- 42.8% prevalence of Babesia infection in cattle and buffaloes in Pakistan [13]. Babesiosis has a great monetary impact due to mortality, loss of meat, beef and milk productions of infected animals as well as this disease also have great influence on international dairy trade [5, 14]. It is essential to detect the disease to control and prevents the spreading of Babesiosis. Babesia spps can be detected easily through microscopic technique in the red blood cells of the host at the acute stage of Babesiosis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is more sensitive and specific technique, offers an alternative approach for the diagnosis of Babesiosis [12] in every age group of animals.Keeping in view, the importance of the disease due to economic losses to the dairy industries the research work was designed to study the epidemiology of Babesiosis in house hold dairies in district Karak and district Kohat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1. Sources and collection of specimen A total of 2400 blood samples were collected randomly from the house hold dairy of different locations in district Karak and Kohat during the period January to December 2012. The blood were collected directly by syringe from the jugular vein in sterilized vacationer having capacity of 5ml each then labeled with date, sex , area and nature of animal. The samples were placed in ice jar and transported to