Strategic Management of a Sahiwal cow calf with Co-infection of Babesia and Theileria

A male calf was presented with history of anorexia, fever, weakness, brown urine, recumbency and loss of suckling reflex. The clinical examination revealed anemia, jaundice, infestation of ticks and enlarged superficial lymph nodes and peripheral blood smear was found positive for both Babesia bigemina and Theilaria sp. Further, cytology of lymph node fluid exhibited presence of prominent koch's blue body of Theileria spp. Hemogram and serum biochemistry revealed lower level of hemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte count and elevated total leukocyte count (TLC), concentrations of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine. The calf was strategically treated with Diminazine aceturate @ 7 mg/kg b. wt. and Buparavaquone @ 2.5 mg/kg b. wt. by deep intramuscular route. Further, Meloxicam, Vitamin B complex and Inorganic phosphorous were administered as per standard dose once daily for five day as supportive therapy. After therapy calf shows uneventful recovery from illness and started suckling the dam and blood smear was found negative for any hemoprotozoal infection.