| Summary: | The northwestern region of China, known as the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Area (QTPA), is characterized by unique climate conditions that support the breeding of various highly-adapted livestock species. Tick vectors play a significant role in transmitting <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species, posing serious risks to animal health as well as the economy of animal husbandry in QTPA. A total of 366 blood samples were collected from Tibetan sheep (<i>n</i> = 51), goats (<i>n</i> = 67), yaks (<i>n</i> = 43), cattle (<i>n</i> = 49), Bactrian camels (<i>n</i> = 50), horses (<i>n</i> = 65), and donkeys (<i>n</i> = 40). These samples were examined using conventional and nested PCR techniques to detect <i>Theileria</i> and <i>Babesia</i> species. The overall infection rates were 0.3% (1/366) for <i>Babesia</i> spp. and 38.2% (140/366) for <i>Theileria</i> spp. Notably, neither <i>Babesia</i> nor <i>Theileria</i> species were detected in donkeys and yaks. The infection rates of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species among animals in different prefectures were significantly different (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Furthermore, <i>Babesia bovis</i>, <i>B. bigemina</i>, <i>B. caballi</i>, and <i>B. ovis</i> were not detected in the current study. To our knowledge, this is the first documented detection of <i>Theileria luwenshuni</i> infection in Bactrian camels and goats, as well as <i>T. sinesis</i> in cattle and <i>T. equi</i> in horses on the Qinghai plateau. These novel findings shed light on the distribution of <i>Babesia</i> and <i>Theileria</i> species among livestock species in QTPA.
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