Online published on 19 December, 2013.
In the present study twenty cows with symptoms of pyrexia, anorexia, suspended rumination, haemoglobinuria reduced milk yield, depression were brought to the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) over a period of three months from August to October 2013 were included. The clinical examination revealed elevated temperature ranging from 102.5oF to 104.2’F, accelerated heart rate and respiration. The mucous membranes of the ailing animals were icteric. In one animal, nervous signs like trembling and mild convulsions were observed. Mild to moderate tick infestation was also found in all the cases. In the present cases, significantly lower values of Hb, PCV were observed. Tropical theileriosis and Babesiosis are important tick born haemoprotozoan disease of cattle in many tropical countries including India, caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria annulata, Babesia bovis respectively and transmitted by ticks. Haemoprotozoan infestation causes serious economic losses through mortality and loss of productivity. It is characterized by high rise of temperature. In acute infections there is large scale destruction of erythrocytes with intravascular hemolysis,indiscriminate phagocytosis of infected erythrocytes by activated macrophage system and suppression of erythropoietic activity of bone marrow, and these are important cause of anemia. Anemic hypoxia results in elevated pulse and respiratory rates. This could be due to compensatory mechanism of the body for proper oxygenation of the tissues. Haematological studies revealed reduced Hb (by sahli's method), PCV(Microhematocrit method) and DLC(Differencial Leucocyte Count). Blood was collected for parasitological as well as routine hematological examinations, The Giemsa stained blood smear revealed the presence of Haemoprotozoan organisms. The results obtained were expressed as mean ±SD. Haematological studies revealed Hb 6.35 ±2.07 g/dl, PCV 22.44 ±9.13%. The differential leucocytes count exhibited neutrophils 54.15±17.7%, Lymphocytes 35.65±15.34%, monocytes 7.75±5.99% and eosinophils 2.25±3.24%, basophils 0.05 ±0.22%.
