Bovine babesiosis due to Babesia bigemina Haematobiochemical and therapeutic studies

Abstract

Prevalence, haematabiochemical alterations and therapeutic observations were conducted on clinical/subclinical cases of babesiosis in bovines in Punjab state. Out of the 101 blood samples examined from 72 cattle and 29 buffaloes during July 2002 to June 2003 overall infection rate due to Babesia bigemina was 5.94% in bovines with an infection rate of 8.33"% in cattle. Infected adult crossbred cattle showed marked anemia and significant leucocytosis with neutrophilia and lymphopenia. Biochemical studies revealed a significant (P&lt0.05) elevation in total plasma proteins, immunoglobulins and creatinine while significant decrease (P&ltO.O5) in albumin. Circulating immune complexes (CIC) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) showed a non-significant increase. Treatment of infected animals with diminazene aceturate @ 1 .6 g/100kg¯¹bw resulted marked improvement in haematological parameters. Biochemical studies revealed significant decrease in total plasma proteins, globulin, creatinine and BUN after 15 days of post treatment and non-significant increase in albumin and CIC. It was concluded that reversible degenerative changes produced in babesiosis in cattle may be due to anemia, hypoxia, haemoglobinuria and infiltration of CIC in the tissues.