Microscopic identification, molecular and phylogenetic analysis of Babesia species in buffalo from slaughter house in Al-Najaf city of Iraq

<em>Babesia </em>is one of hemoprotozoan parasite transmitted by arthropod vectors which responsible for causing of Babesiosis disease in bovine worldwide. The present study was designed for microscopic identification, molecular, and phylogenetic analysis of <em>Babesia </em>species in buffalo from slaughter house in Al-Najaf city of Iraq. The study performed in three months of summer season (August into September 2017) and animals ages and sex were included in this study. The direct microscopic prevalence results were show highest prevalence of haemoprotozoa prevalence at <em>Babesia </em>sp. 45.74%. The prevalence of <em>Babesia </em>sp. related to animal sex, were show in male 43.48% and female was 52%, with non-significant differences. The Prevalence of <em>Babesia </em>sp. related to age were show 12.50%, 92.86% and 30% in young, adult and old age respectively with significant differences (P<0.05). The prevalence of <em>Babesia </em>sp. related to month of study were show. 28.57%, 62.50% and 42.86 in August, September and October respectively and with non-significant differences. Molecular study results were based on PCR and DNA sequencing method by phylogenetic tree analysis (MEGA 6.0) and NCBI-BLAST Homology Sequence Identity to differentiation <em>Babesia </em>species typing. The <em>Babesia </em>species prevalence results were show identified two <em>Babesia </em>species, high prevalence of <em>Babesia </em>bovis (38.30%) were closed related to NCBI-Blast <em>Babesia </em>bovis (HQ264126.1) with homology sequence identity 97-100% and <em>Babesia bigemina</em> 7.45% were closed related to NCBI-Blast <em>Babesia bigemina</em> (KU206291.1) with homology sequence identity 95-99%, then 43 <em>Babesia </em>species includes (<em>B. bovis </em>and <em>B. bigemina</em>) were submitted into NCBI-Genbank and provided accession numbers (MH503811-MH503853). In conclusion, this study concluded that Phylogenetic tree and homology sequences identity was show accurate in differentiation of <em>Babesia </em>species, and these species can be isolated at from local water buffalo from slaughter house in Al-Najaf city, of Iraq.