Journal of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology Research

Therapeutical Management of Babesiosis in Cross-Bred Cow at Hyderabad, Sindh

Adnan Yousaf*, Muhammad Hashim Baloch, Gohar Khan, Najeebullah Kaker, Naimat Ullah, Mehtab Ahmed and Talat Yasoob

Therapeutical Management of Babesiosis in Cross-Bred Cow at Hyderabad, Sindh

Adnan Yousaf^1*, Muhammad Hashim Baloch², Gohar Khan², Najeebullah Kaker², Naimat Ullah², Mehtab Ahmed² and Talat Yasoob²

¹Faculty of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan
²Department of Livestock and Dairy Development Quetta, Balochistan, Pakistan

*Corresponding author
Adnan Yousaf, Faculty of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT
Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted disease caused by protozoans of the genus Babesia and it is characterized by haemolytic anemia and fever, with occasional hemoglobinuria and death. In the present study, a cross-bred cow aged between 4-6 years was presented to the OPD of the departmental hospital with a history of fever, anorexia, passing coffee-colored urine, reduced milk yield, depression, and reluctance to move. Examination of the blood smears confirmed the Babesia spp. in all the cows. Microscopy detection methods are still the cheapest and fastest methods used to identify Babesia parasites although their sensitivity and specificity are limited. Haematological studies revealed reduced Hb, PCV, and TEC. Serum chemistry revealed hyperglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, BUN, AST, and hypoprotienemia. Urine was positive for haemoglobin, glucose, and bile pigments. Three cows were treated successfully with diminazene aceturate (Berenil) at 3 mg/kg body weight, together with supportive therapy. Whereas, one cow died due to severe anemia.

Keywords: Haemoglibinuria, Cattle, Anemia, Jaundice, BUN

Introduction
Bovine babesiosis is a tick-borne parasitic disease that results in significant morbidity and mortality in cattle [1]. The economic losses can be considerable, especially when animals with no immunity are moved into an endemic area. Three species of Babesia cause most clinical cases in cattle: Babesia bovis and B. bigemina are widespread in tropical [2]. It is a disease with a worldwide distribution affecting many species of mammals with a major impact on cattle and man [3]. The disease is particularly severe in naive animals introduced into endemic areas and is a considerable constraint on livestock development in many parts of the world [4]. It occurs most commonly in exotic crossbred cattle under stress conditions particularly in tropical and subtropical countries including Pakistan when the tick population is very high [3-5]. Most cattle Babesia do not seem to affect humans; however, B. divergens can cause rapidly progressing, life-threatening hemolytic anemia in people who have had splenectomies. The order Aconoidasida, family Piroplasmida, and genus babesidae have been assigned to Babesia [National Centre for Biotechnology Information: taxonomy browser]. This disease is not only important for veterinarians, but it also has zoonotic potential. Humans are usually infected by B. microti and B. divergens species [6]. Ticks of the Rhipicephalus genus are the main vectors for disease transmission, but Dermacentor reticularis, Haemaphysalis bispinosa, and Haemaphysalis longicornis transmit Babesia gibsoni. Due to intravascular and extravascular hemolysis, the major clinical symptoms of Babesiosis in cattle include anemia and fever [7].

Case Presentation and History
Animal History
In the present study, a crossbred cow aged between 4-6 years was presented to the OPD of the departmental hospital with a history of fever, anorexia, passing coffee-colored urine, pale mucous membranes, and increased respiratory and heart rates, as well as decreased appetite, reduced milk yield, depression and reluctance to move. 

Clinical Examination 
On clinical examination elevated temperature ranging from 103oF to 104.2oF, accelerated heart rate and respiration, dyspnoea, suspended rumination, presence of icteric mucus membranes with mild to moderate tick infestation, and enlarged lymphnodes with haemoglobinuria were observed. Jaundice is sometimes apparent, especially when the clinical signs are less acute, and hemoglobinuria and hemoglobinemia are common in animals infected with B. bigemina. B. bovis can cause additional clinical signs via changes in red blood cells (RBCs) that result in their accumulation in capillaries, including those of the brain. 

Laboratory Analysis 
Blood and serum were collected for laboratory investigation. Blood smears revealed presence of Babesia spp. in 40% of RBCs of all the smears. Haemogram revealed on average extremely low levels of Hb, PCV, TEC and platelets counts. Serum chemistry revealed hyperglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, BUN, AST, and hypoprotienemia. The values are presented in Table 1. Urine was coffee colored and positive for haemoglobin, glucose, and bile pigments in the cow.

Treatment
The animal was treated with a single dose of Diminazine accurate (Inj. Berenil RTU, Hoechst®) 3 mg/kg Bwt i/m at two different sites in neck muscles, long-acting oxytetracycline (Inj. Intamycin-LA, Intas Pharmaceuticals) @ 20 mg / kg body wt i/m at 48 hours intervals on two occasions, haematinic (Inj. Feritas, Intas Pharmaceuticals®) 10 ml i/m thrice weekly for one week, rumenotoric (liquid Brotone, Virbac® Animal Health) 40 ml daily orally for 10 days and Injection Rintose (Wockhardt®) 500 ml i/v daily for 3 days. After 3 days temperature reduced drastically to 102oF. Hb and PCV levels improved after 3 wks. Treatment was successful with diminazene aceturate (Berenil) at 3 mg/kg body weight, together with supportive therapy.

Discussion
Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted disease caused by protozo- ans of the genus Babesia and it is characterized by haemolytic anemia and fever, with occasional hemoglobinuria and death [8]. The minimum infective dose required to produce overt disease is thought to be 103 parasites inoculated intravenously [9]. Variations in the number of parasites injected result in highly significant changes to the prepatent period, peak parasitemia, and the hematological response. In addition to the number of infected ticks that feed on an animal, the immune status of the host and the virulence of the infecting strain. Subclinical infections are quite common and are usually missed by the farmer and clinician. Affected animals have low parasitemia, may suffer mild fever and anorexia, and make an uneventful recovery [10]. Hemoglobinuria, frequently the clinical sign first detected by the owner, occurs at the peak of the hemolytic crisis is in accordance with the present cases. Immediately after the hemolytic crisis, a brief lymphocytosis and monocytosis combine to cause a leukocytosis [11].
 
Detection and treatment of babesiosis are important tools to control babesiosis. Microscopy detection methods are still the cheapest and fastest methods used to identify Babe- sia parasites although their sensitivity and specificity are limited [12]. When tick population is very high, the disease may be so acute as to cause death within a few days, during which the PCV falls below 20% and the parasitaemia, which is usually detectable once the clinical signs appear and may involve 0.2% to 45% of the red cells, depending on the species of Babesia [11]. Most of the clinico-haemotological findings observed in our cases were similar to those reported earlier [10]. For years, babesiosis treatment has been based on the use of very few drugs like imidocarb or diminazene aceturate. Recently, several pharmacological compounds were developed and evaluated, offering new options to control the disease [13]. Diminazene aceturate consists of an organic base and organic acid but once dissolved in water, it dissociates. It is usually given by intra-muscular injection at doses of 3-5 mg/ kg [13]. Long acting oxytetracyclinehas been shown to have a prophylactic effective against Babesia divergens infection [7]. In human’s treatment with quinine and clindamycin, successfully eradicated the organisms. Subsequent studies in animals have supported the usefulness of this combination of antimicrobial agents [3]. Prolonged convalescent period results in considerable loss of production for a long period in babesiosis [5]. B-complex and oral haematenics were continued for 3 weeks till the animals were completely recovered from anemia.

Conflict of Interests: There exists no conflict of interest.

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