Babesiosis in Cattle-(Red Water Disease,Tick Fever)Explained simply

Etiology

1. Intraerythrocytic protozoan Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals, including horses, sheep, goats, pigs, and dogs.
2. Transovarial transmission by Rhipicephalus spp. tick

Clinical signs

• Pyrexia: 40-41°C
• Inappentence
• Increased respiratory rate
• Anaemia and jaundice
• Hemoglobinuria
• Dark red to coffee-coloured urine is the pathognomonic sign
• Muscle tremors
• Late time pregnancy cow may abort
• Recovered animals from acute disease act as a career for a few months to Year
• Neurological signs incoordination and teeth grinding
• sometimes reluctant to move

Lesions

• Enlarged and friable spleen
• Swollen liver
• Enlarged gallbladder with thick granular bile
• Kidney-congested and dark coloured
• General anaemia and jaundice
• Brain and heart may show congestion and petechiae

Diagnosis

• Blood smear examination
• Serological tests like ELISA a, Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test(FAT)
• Immunochromotograpgy Test (ICT)
• PCR

Differential diagnosis

• Must be differentiated from other Haemoprotozoal diseases like Anaplasmosis, Trypanosomiasis and Theileriosis. They don't show Haemoglobinuria but Babesiosis shows Haemoglobinuria. Infield level diagnosis after treatment of 24-48 hrs, the urine becomes normal otherwise you should consider other causes.
• Haemoglobinuria must be differentiated from Leptospirosis, Bacillary haemoglobinuria, Post parturient haemoglobinuria
• Rapeseed poisoning
• Chronic Copper poisoning



Treatment

1. Diminazene aceturate (Berenil): 3.5 mg/kg Deep IM once.

2.Imidocarb: 1.2 mg/kg SC.At the dose of 3 mg/kg, it gives protection against Babesia for 4 weeks

3. Blood transfusion in most advanced cases

4. Recommended Fluid therapy in anaemic animals

Prevention and Control

• Control of ticks using ectoparasiticides like Cypermethrin, Deltamethrin…or else use of Ivermectin 0.2 mg/kg SC
• Dipping the animal periodically 4-6 weeks once