Blood Protozoans

Theileriosis is a tick-borne disease caused by an intracellular blood parasite that in India is carried by the cattle tick.

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Signs of Theileriosis

Signs of Theileriosis are those associated with anaemia and include: pale membranes, depression, lethargy, lack of appetite, exercise intolerance, (lagging behind the mob) downer cows that do not respond to treatment and in some instances cattle may collapse and die if stressed or forced to move or run. Pregnant cows may abort and still births are common. In dairy cows a drop in milk production will occur and somatic cell counts may rise.

Babesiosis

Babesiosis of cattle caused by a blood borne parasite called Babesia bovis, B. bigemina is a disease most commonly encountered in rough pasture and is not present at all on many farms in Ireland. Disease outbreaks can result in severe production losses, mainly due to weakness and mortality.

Clinical Signs

Acute babesiosis (Redwater) generally runs a course of approximately one week. The first sign is fever which persists through the acute phase, and is accompanied later by anorexia, increased respiratory rate (particularly if animals are moved), muscle tremors, anaemia, pipe-stem diarrhoea and weight loss. Animals are often anorexic (hollow flanks). Haemoglobinemia and haemoglobinuria (Reds to port wine-coloured urine) occur in the intermediate stages. This may be followed by jaundice. Constipation commonly develops in the later stages and animals may become recumbent (unable to stand) due to weakness. Death often follows recumbency especially in cold climatic conditions where shock is exacerbated.

Late-term pregnant cows may abort, and bulls may undergo temporary infertility due to transient fever.It can take a number of days for the red discolouration of urine to clear. Animals that recover from the acute disease remain infected for a variable time though no clinical signs are apparent during this carrier state.

Diagnosis

This is being diagnosed by Microscopic examination of blood by a dairy expert por pathologist.

Control and prevention options

Calves should be examined closely when they are 6-12 weeks old as this is the time when temperatures are increasing and ticks will be starting to attach to stock. Introduced cattle should be examined closely when they arrive on farm, and are starting to settle in over the next few weeks – as this is commonly when stressors are maximal and clinical disease may present. All new animals should be screened for Theileria.

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