Breed shapes hemotropic coinfection dynamics in cattle: evidence from Colombia

Hemotropic pathogens such as Anaplasma , Babesia , Mycoplasma , and Trypanosoma are endemic in cattle and can cause coinfections, complicating disease dynamics and control. However, host-related factors influencing these infections under tropical conditions remain poorly understood. This study investigated the occurrence of hemotropic monoinfections and coinfections in cattle and assessed host-related factors associated with coinfection in Colombia. A total of 104 animals were sampled: 91 cattle, 10 buffaloes, and 3 goats. Among cattle, 34 (37.4%) exhibited monoinfections, 47 (51.6%) coinfections, and 10 tested negative. In buffaloes, seven (70%) presented monoinfections and two (20%) coinfections; in goats, two had monoinfections and one coinfection, most frequently involving Mycoplasma spp. The predominant patterns were Anaplasma  +  Mycoplasma and Mycoplasma  +  Trypanosoma , especially in Bos indicus cattle. Bivariate and multivariate analyses identified breed as the strongest predictor of coinfection, with animals of less common breeds showing a 98% lower risk (aOR = 0.02; p = 0.007). Younger cattle (7–12 months) and Bos taurus individuals also showed reduced odds of coinfection. Our findings demonstrate a high frequency of hemotropic coinfections in cattle, particularly those involving Mycoplasma spp., and reveal that host factors such as breed and age significantly influence infection risk. B. indicus cattle exhibited the highest coinfection rates, while B. taurus and younger animals had lower odds. These results underscore the importance of tailoring surveillance and prevention strategies to the demographic and genetic profiles of livestock populations to improve disease management in tropical systems.