Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Theileriosis in Cattle
Calves

Savita; Dhuria D* and Nayak TC

doi:10.23880/izab-16000207

International Journal of Zoology and Animal Biology Research Article 6 min read

Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Theileriosis in Cattle Calves

Savita, Dhuria D* and Nayak TC^*

^* Corresponding author

ISSN: 2639-216X 10.23880/izab-16000207 Received: February 03, 2020 Published: February 19, 2020

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17 references

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Keywords

Theileriosis Piroplasms Schizonts Buparvaquone

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out among ten cross-bred Cattle calves of age between 1-5 months which were presented to Veterinary Clinical Complex of College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner with the history of anorexia, high fever, diarrhoea and tick infestation. Upon clinical examination pale mucous membrane, enlarged prescapular lymph nodes and increase in respiration rate and pulse rate were found. Blood samples were collected from jugular vein in vacutainers containing EDTA for haemogram. Microscopic examination of Giemsa stained thin blood smears revealed piroplasms in erythrocytes and lymph node aspirate smears revealed presence of schizonts (Kochâ€™s blue bodies) in lymphocytes. Upon haematological examination it revealed that the decrease in haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume and lymphocytes, however increase in total leukocyte count and neutrophils. After confirmation of Theileriosis in calves Buparvaquone was administered at the dose rate of 1ml/20kg body weight via intramuscular route. Eight calves were very well responded to the treatment but two calves were eventually died due to severe anaemia.

Introduction

Tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection); is a tick-borne haemoprotozoan disease of mainly cross-bred cattle calves which is transmitted by Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum tick. Tropical Theileriosis is an economically important disease of cattle in tropical and subtropical regions [1] that stretch out from the Mediterranean coastal regions to Indian subcontinent and China [2]. It usually occurs in late spring and early summer season in animals [3]. In T. annulata infection common clinical symptoms are weakness, weight loss, anorexia, high fever, petechial haemorrhages on conjunctiva, swollen lymph nodes (parotid, prescapular and prefemoral) and anaemia and in later stage icterus, dehydration and blood in faeces are the occasional clinical symptoms [4, 5, 6].

Conventional method of diagnosis of tropical theileriosis largely depends on examination of Giemsa stained thin blood and lymph node aspirate smears [7]. Buparvaquone is a second generation hydroxynaphthoquinone compound and drug of choice for tropical Theileriosis [8, 9]. This paper presents direct microscopic detection of the piroplasms and schizonts of Theileria annulata in blood smears and lymph node biopsy smears (easy, convenient and ‘gold standard’ diagnostic test) from the cattle calves which shown signs of high fever and enlargement of lymph nodes and treatment of calves with Buparvaquone which is a promising drug for the treatment of theileriosis in animals.

Materials and Methods

The present investigation was carried out among ten cross-bred Cattle calves of age between 1-5 months which were presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Bikaner with the history of anorexia, high fever, diarrhoea and tick infestation. Upon clinical examination pale mucous membrane, enlarged prescapular lymph nodes and increase in respiration rate and pulse rate were found.

Diagnosis

Blood samples were collected from jugular vein in vacutainers containing EDTA for haemogram. Giemsa stained thin blood smears were also examined for piroplasms and lymph node biopsy smear for schizonts. Faecal samples were also collected for examination of parasitic infestation.

Treatment

Buparvaquone (inj. Zubion) was administered in each calf at the dose rate of 1 ml per 20 kg body weight via intramuscular route. The calves were clinically examined at 3th day of treatment to assess the efficacy of treatment.

Results and Discussion

The haematological examination of Theileria affected calves revealed that the decrease in haemoglobin, total erythrocyte count, packed cell volume and lymphocytes, however increase in total leukocyte count and neutrophils (Table 1). The findings were in accordance with Al-Emarah, et al., Al-Hosary, et al., Modi, et al. and Goyal, et al. [10, 11, 12].

Parameters	Mean Value
Hb (g/dl)	5.8
RBC (×106/µL)	4.2
WBC ((×103/µL)	9.5
Lymphocytes (%)	46
Neutrophils (%)	50
Eosinophils (%)	2
Monocytes (%)	1
PCV (%)	21.5

Table 1: Mean Haematological values in Theileria affected Cattle calves.

Microscopic examination of Giemsa stained thin blood smears revealed piroplasms in erythrocytes and lymph node aspirate smears revealed presence of schizonts (Koch’s blue bodies) in lymphocytes. This conventional method of diagnosis of Theileriosis was also reported by Padhiyar, et al. [13], Sharieff, et al. [7]. Microscopic examination of faecal samples did not reveal any parasitic egg or oocyst.

After confirmation of Theileriosis in calves Buparvaquone was administered in each calf at the dose rate of 1ml/20kg body weight by intramuscular route (repeat after 48 hours only two calves which did not shown any improvement), along with oral administration of diaroak powder 10 gram BD, SOS. Usage of Buparvaquone for treatment of Theileriosis in cattle calves at a dose rate of 1ml/20 kg body weight was also reported by Zahid, et al. [14], Arindam Samanta, et al. [8], Singh, et al. [9]. Kumar, et al. [15] stated that Buparvaquone is a promising compound for the therapy and prophylaxis of all forms of theileriosis in animals. Singh, et al. [16] reported that efficacy of oxytetracycline in treatment of theileriosis in cows is less as compare to buparvaquone as all animals were responded to the treatment with buparvaquone.

Effect of therapy was observed in eight calves, which revealed a marked clinical improvement in appetite, body temperature and diaorrhoea subsided gradually within 3 days [8], however two calves were eventually died on first day of treatment which can be due to severe anaemia [17].

Conclusion

It may be conclude that Theileriosis inflicts economic burden on cattle breeders in terms of mortality and morbidity which reflects severe economic losses and that elevates the poverty level. Thus apart from prompt diagnosis and therapeutic management, immunoprophylaxis with in vitro attenuated schizontal cell culture vaccine which is available with trade name of Rakshavac T is essential to prevent infection in highly valued animals.

References

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