Intas Polivet 21 (1): 133-135 Short Communication

Diagnosis and Management of Concurrent Babesiosis

and Theileriosis in a Crossbred Calf
Prem Sagar Maurya1, Shivani Sahu2 and Gulab Chandra3
Department of Veterinary Parasitology
College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT)
Meerut - 250110 (Uttar Pradesh)

Abstract
A calf was presented with history of fever, anorexia, lacrimation, red coloured urine, marked emaciation and weakness
since last four days. Physical examination revealed high fever, pale to whitish conjunctival membrane, swollen pre-
scapular lymph node and tick infestation. Hematological examination recorded decrease in hemoglobin, packed cell
volume, total erythrocyte and platelet count. Presence of crescent shaped merozoites of T. annulata, pear shaped
piroplasms of Babesia bigemina in RBC and Koch’s blue bodies in lymphocytes were observed. The treatment was
instituted with Diminazene aceturate and Buparvaquone along with supportive therapy. The health of infected calf gradually
improved to normaly.
Keywords: Babesiosis; calf; Koch’s blue bodies; theileriosis
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Introduction urine, marked emaciation and weakness since four

Tick and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) prevents days. Physical examination revealed high fever
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growth in livestock and has serious constraints on (41.5oC), pale to white conjunctival membrane (Fig.
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health and productivity of domesticated cattle in
tropical and sub-tropical regions of World (de Castro,
1997). Bovine Babesiosis (BB) and Bovine Tropical
Theileriosis (BTT) are two major tick borne
hemoprotozoan and economically most important
diseases of crossbred cattle in India. Babesiosis in
cattle is caused by Babesia bovis and B. bigemina
whereas theileriosisis caused by intra-erthrocytic
protozoan parasite, Theileria annulata and Theileria
parva. These diseases are responsible for high level
of morbidity and mortality in susceptible population
and thereby causing tremendous economic losses
to dairy sector (Shanawaz et al., 2011 and Velusamy
et al., 2014). Conventionally and economically
hemoprotozoan infections are usually diagnosed by
gold standard microscopy of stained blood smear.
The present article describes concurrent infection of
babesiosis and theileriosis in a crossbred calf and
their therapeutic management.
History and Clinical Signs
A three month old female calf was presented with
history of fever, anorexia, lacrimation, red coloured
1. Assistant Professor and Corresponding author.
E-mail: vet.drpremm@gmail.com
2. Assistant Professor
3. Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary
Physiology and Biochemistry
a - Brand of MSD Animal Health, Pune
b - Brand of Intas Animal Health, Ahmedabad
1) and swollen pre-scapular lymph node (Fig. 2). 2
ml blood sample was collected in EDTA coated vial
from ear vein for microscopic and hematological
examination. Lymph node aspirate was also taken.
Hematological findings
Hematological examination reported 4.73 x 106/µl
total erythrocyte count; 2.3 x105/µl platelet count;
14.1 x103/µl leukocyte count; 5.2 g/dl hemoglobin
concentration and 26 percent PCV. The Giemsa
stained blood smear examination showed presence
of intra erythrocytic cresent shaped merozoite of
T. annulata and pear shaped piroplasm of Babesia
bigemina (Fig. 3). Simultaneously, Giemsa
stained pre-scapular lymph node aspirate smear
revealed presence of Koch’s blue bodies in
lymphocytes (Fig. 4).
Therapeutic Management
Based on above findings, the calf was diagnosed
with mixed infection of babesiosis and theileriosis.
The treatment was instituted with injection
Diminazene aceturate (Berenila) at 3.5 mg/ kg b. wt.,
deep IM (Soulsby,1982) and single shot therapy with
Buparvaquone (Zubionb) at 2.5 mg/ kg b. wt., IM
(Sharma et al., 2010) along with supportive therapy
of Meloxicam and Paracetamol (Melonex plusb) 4
ml IM; hematinic injection (Feritas b) 3 ml, IM;
Chlorpheniramine maleate (Anistaminb) 2 ml (10 mg/
ml) IM and Vitamin B Complex (Tribivetb) 4 ml, IM.

133
 Concurrent babesiosis and theileriosis in calf
Fig. 1: Pale to whitish Fig. 2: Swlloen pre-scapular
conjunctival membrane lymph node
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Fig. 4: Giemsa stained smear of lymph node aspirate
showed one macro schizont (Koch’s blue bodies) and
one micro schizont in lymphocytes (100X magnification)
Discussion
The rapidly increasing incidence of babesiosis and
theileriosis is primarily due to climatic change in India
and is responsible for production loss as well as life
threatening to crossbreds. BB and BTT are two major
tick borne hemoprotozoan parasites of economically
most important disease of crossbred cattle in India
that leads to tremendous economic losses due to
decrease in production performance and mortality.
The Giemsa’s stained blood smear showed
presence of both microorganism, Babesia bigemina
and Theileria annulata in same field under 100X
magnification. The concurrent infection of
B. bigemina and Theileria annulata has been earlier
documented by Singh et al. (2011) in India and
Hussein et al. (2017) from Egypt. Likewise, Giemsa’s
stained smear from lymph node aspirate confirmed
presence of Koch‘s blue bodies, correlating with the
previous findings noted by Islam et al. (2017). The
hematological values were adversely affected in
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Fig. 3: Giemsa stained blood smear with
crescent shaped Theileria annulata
merozoite and pear shaped piroplasm of
Babesia bigemina (100X magnification)
infected cases. The hemoglobin level was reduced
to 5.2 gm/dl. The total erythrocyte count and PCV
were also decreased up to 4.73 x10 6/µl and 26
percent respectively. This might be due to destruction
of RBC’s caused by multiplication and production of
excretory and secretary products (rupture and
phagocytosis). Whereas total leucocytes count
increased to 14.1 x103/µl might be hemoprotozoan
parasites acting as foreign substances for host body,
so immune system of host tries to eliminate foreign
substances by immunologically mediated and
phagocyte cells. Our hematological results, showed
similar pattern to previous finding of Ananda et al.
(2009) and Singh et al. (2011). The parasites were
determined according to morphological appearance
described by Soulsby (1982). The health of infected
calf was gradually improved after completion of
therapeutic course.
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to Dean, College of
Veterinary and Animal Sciences and Vice
Chancellor, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of
Agriculture and Technology (SVPUAT), Meerut for
providing such facilities for carrying out the work.
References
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(2007). Theileriosis and Babesiosis in Cattle - Hemogram
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Vet. World. 7: 574-78
Received on: 14.10.2019
Accepted on: 30.12.2019

Prof. Velugoti Padmanabha Reddy takes over as Vice Chancellor, SVVU

On 5th August 2020, Dr. V.P. Reddy, a distinguished Veterinarian, Academician
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and renowned dairy and food safety researcher with more than thirty five years of
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multidisciplinary professional experience took over as Vice-Chancellor of Sri

Venkateswara Veterinary University (SVVU), Tirupati.

Dr. Reddy is a native of Pulivendla, Dr. YSR Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh with
formal education in the form of Under graduation (BVSc) and Post-graduation
(MVSc) from then Andhra Pradesh Agricultural University (APAU) and Doctoral
degree (Ph.D.) from Tamil Nadu University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (TANUVAS). He later
pursued Post-Doctoral research from University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA.
Dr. Reddy has always strived to bring excellence, transparency and furtherance of standards in every field.
He started his career as a Research Associate at Faculty of Veterinary Science, APAU in 1984 and
continued through different academic positions including Assistant, Associate, Professor and Senior
Professor. He also served as the Dean of the faculty of Dairy Science, as Registrar, Controller of Examination
of SVVU as well. He has supervised both M.V.Sc. and Ph.D. students for their dissertation, published more
than 45 research papers, authored 5 laboratory manuals, 3 monographs and a book chapter.
He has been awarded with Dr. Kurein’s Gold Medal in Ph.D.; Andhra Pradesh State University Meritorious
Teachers’ Award and Sri Nalakantapuram Sreerama Reddy Gold Medal for Best Veterinary Scientist. He
has also been recognized as Fellow of Indian Dairy Association (IDA), National Academy of Dairy Science
(NADS, India) and Association of Public Health Veterinarians (APHV) in addition to being member of
several national scientific and professional societies. As a researcher, he has been awarded with several
grants from ICAR, multi institutional NAIP projects. He holds several honorary and scientific advisory
positions at Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fishery Sciences University, Bidar; National Dairy Research
Institute, Karnal; Ministry of Commerce and Industry; Also served as Member of Planning Board of SVVU,
Member of Board of Studies for Food Sciences in TANUVAS, Member of Board of Studies for Dairy
Technology in SV University and Osmania University etc.
Intas Polivet wishes Dr. Reddy, a successful and accomplishing tenure as Vice Chancellor, SVVU, Tirupati
and hope that his expertise would assist developments and activities of SVVU.

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