Babesia divergens becoming extinct in cattle of Northeast Hungary: new data on the past and present situation.

Previously unpublished data from 1958 to 1967 attest the occurrence of Babesia divergens in cattle in several endemic foci of Northeast Hungary. During that period the number of clinical cases showed fluctuation with intervals of 4-5 years and monophasic seasonality (peaking in June). In order to assess the current status of bovine babesiosis in that region, blood samples were collected from 654 cattle on 44 farms of 36 settlements in or near the endemic area during 2005, and serum levels of IgG antibodies to B.