Bovine Babesiosis

Pashu Sandesh, 23^rd August 2018

Dr. Brijesh Nanda, Dr. Sunil Rajoria, Dr. Diksha Dhanwani

Introduction: - Bovine Babesiosis (BB) is a tick-borne disease of cattle. Babesiosis was first reported in 1888 by Viktor Babes in Romania who detected the presence of round, intra-erythrocytic bodies in the blood of infected cattle. The major impact occurs in the cattle industry where bovine babesiosis had a huge economic effect due to loss of meat of infected animals and death. Babesiosis often occurs at the same time as Lyme disease. The tick that carries the Lyme bacteria can also be infected with the Babesia parasite.

Distribution of disease: - it has worldwide distribution, but little is known about the prevalence of Babesia in malaria-endemic countries, where misidentification as Plasmodium probably occurs.  From North-Eastern region of India, B. bigemina infections in 3.6% cattle using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been reported. Lower prevalence of B. bigemina has been reported from different parts of India both by conventional (Giemsa staining) and molecular methods. By conventional method, 0.48-2.7% prevalence rate has been reported from Punjab, Kerala, and Karnataka. By using PCR, prevalence of 0.66% and 2.43% has been reported from Kerala and Punjab, respectively. In India, in case of cattle, B. bigemina infection predominates over B. bovis infection and very few reports of B. bovis are available. 

Etiology: - The principal strains are  babesia bovis, babesia bigemina, babesia pergens and babesia major with Boophilus and Rhipicephalus ticks being the major vector. B. bovis and B. bigemina affects cattle, water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and African buffalo (Syncerus caffer).

Transmission: - The most common way to contract Babesia is a bite from an infected tick. All species of Babesia are naturally transmitted from animal to animal through the bites of ticks and within ticks' transovarian transmission (transmission of infection through eggs from mother ticks), and stage-to-stage transmission (transmission of infection from egg to larvae to nymph to adult) occurs. Ticks are widely distributed throughout the world particularly in tropical and subtropical countries, and 80% of the world cattle are affected with ticks and ticks borne diseases.

Sign & Symptoms: - The acute disease generally runs a course of ~1 wk. The first sign is fever (frequently ≥106°F [41°C]), which persists throughout, and is accompanied later by Inappetance, increased respiratory rate, muscle tremors, anemia, jaundice, and weight loss; hemoglobinemia and hemoglobinuria occur in the final stages. CNS involvement due to adhesion of parasitized erythrocytes in brain capillaries can occur with B bovis infections. Either constipation or diarrhea may be present. Late-term pregnant cows may abort, and temporary infertility due to transient fever may be seen in bulls. Animals that recover from the acute disease remain infected for a number of years with B bovis and for a few months in the case of B bigemina. No clinical signs are apparent during this carrier state.

Lesions:- Lesions (particularly with B bovis) include an enlarged and friable spleen; a swollen liver with an enlarged gallbladder containing thick granular bile; congested, dark-colored kidneys; and generalized anemia and jaundice. Most clinical cases of B. bigemina have hemoglobinuria, but this is not invariably the case with B. bovis. Other organs, including the brain and heart, may show congestion or petechiae.

Treatment and Control:- A variety of drugs have been used to treat babesiosis in the past, but only diminazene aceturate and imidocarb dipropionate are still in common use. These drugs are not available in all endemic countries, or their use may be restricted. For treating cattle, diminazene is given IM at 3.5 mg/kg. For treatment, imidocarb is given SC at 1.2 mg/kg. At a dosage of 3 mg/kg, imidocarb provides protection from babesiosis for ~4 wk and will also eliminate B bovis and B bigemina from carrier animals. Supportive treatment is advisable, particularly in valuable animals, and may include the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, and fluid therapy. Blood transfusions may be life-saving in very anemic animals. Vaccination using live, attenuated strains of the parasites has been used successfully. 

Dr. Brijesh Nanda¹, Dr. Sunil Rajoria², Dr. Diksha Dhanwani³

1. Assistant Professor, Department of LPM, Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur. 2. Teaching Associate, Veterinary University Training and Research Centre, Dungarpur. 3. B.V.Sc. & A.H. Scholar, Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine, Jaipur.

Corresponding Author: - Dr. Brijesh Nanda

Brijeshnanda2012@gmail.com