Cattle piroplasmosis (babesiosis) is a transmissible, acute disease caused by single-celled microorganisms transmitted by ixodid ticks. The disease is seasonal. Outbreaks of infection are diagnosed mainly in the spring and summer. Cows of different age groups and breeds get sick. Piroplasmosis causes significant damage to the livestock industry and farms.
What is a disease?
Piroplasmosis (Texas fever, chikhir, babesiosis) in cattle belongs to the group of blood parasitic natural focal seasonal infections. The disease is characterized by fever, damage to red blood cells and other blood cells, changes in formula, blood pH, digestive and nervous disorders.
Piroplasmosis in cattle is caused by unicellular microorganisms Piroplasma bigemiria (Babesia bigemina) of the Babesiidae family. The bacteria have an oval, pear-shaped or paired pear-shaped form, in which the parasites are connected to each other by thin ends at an acute angle.
The development cycle of Babesia occurs with the participation of the main and intermediate hosts – ixodid and argassum ticks. After entering the body, Babesia penetrate into red blood cells, where they actively reproduce by division or budding. The waste products of microorganisms (toxins) disrupt the structure of blood cells, causing their death and malfunctioning of all systems and internal organs.
In the body of infected cows, Babesia remain active for 15-16 days. They die quickly and lose their virulence in the external environment. Babesiosis is recorded in various climatic zones, especially in the southern and central regions of our country. Localized outbreaks of the disease are most often diagnosed during the period of activity of blood-sucking insects, in the warm season. From spring to the end of autumn, 2-3 outbreaks of piroplasmosis in cattle are observed in some regions.
Causes of the problem
Cattle are infected when an animal is bitten by a tick whose saliva contains parasites.Babesia spread throughout the body through the bloodstream, penetrating the cellular structures of the blood and tissues. The main localization of Babesia is erythrocytes and leukocytes. One red blood cell can contain 1-3 parasites at the same time. The source of infection is infected, sick animals, latent carriers, ticks. The rapid spread of piroplasmosis is facilitated by high humidity, rainy weather, and the lack of preventive treatments of forests and pastures from blood-sucking insects.
Weakened animals and young animals with weakened immune potential are at risk.
Symptoms of the disease
Piroplasmosis in cattle occurs in acute, subacute, and less often in chronic form. From the moment of infection until the first symptoms appear, it can take from several days to two to three weeks.
Important! First clinical manifestations babesiosis in cattle veterinarians note 10-15 days after the start of the grazing period.
Signs of piroplasmosis in cattle:
- a sharp increase in temperature to 41-42 degrees, chills, fever;
- anemia, yellowness of mucous membranes;
- loss of appetite, complete refusal of feed;
- weight loss;
- decrease, complete absence of milk production;
- cramps, muscle spasms;
- lack of chewing gum;
- intestinal disorders;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- increased thirst;
- change in blood pH.
Sick animals react inadequately to external stimuli. Attacks of apathy are replaced by outbreaks of aggression. Nervous disorders have been reported in cows. The secretory function of the gastrointestinal tract is disrupted. The liver and spleen are enlarged.
Hemorrhages are noticeable on the mucous membranes of internal organs. The blood becomes watery and does not clot well. Vascular permeability increases, which leads to the development of hemoglobinuria, anemia, and changes in the blood formula.
In patients with piroplasmosis cows' pulse quickens up to 110-120 beats per minute. Breathing is frequent and shallow. Mucus and particles of undigested feed are noticeable in the stool. Urine on the 3-5th day acquires a dark brown tint. Signs of severe intoxication of the body and dehydration are noticeable.
Important! Pyroplasmidosis can simultaneously occur with listeriosis, leptospirosis, and francaiellosis. Mixed infections aggravate chronic, systemic pathologies and diseases of the cardiovascular system.
If you do not start emergency treatment of cows with piroplasmosis, the disease will lead to the death of animals in 85-90%.
How to diagnose piroplasmosis
The diagnosis of piroplasmosis is made on the basis of clinical manifestations and laboratory tests. For analysis, blood, feces, urine, discharge from the eyes, nose, and tissue sections are taken. The epizootological situation in the region and the data obtained from autopsies of animal corpses are taken into account.
Important! To quickly identify piroplasmosis in cattle and make a final diagnosis, material is taken for PCR.
Veterinary parasitology also recommends differential diagnosis. It is necessary to exclude leptospirosis, anthrax, anaplasmosis, theileriosis, and other viral and parasitic infections that have similar symptoms to bovine piroplasmosis.
Treatment methods
If you suspect that cattle have been infected with piroplasmosis or have diagnostic data on hand, it is necessary to begin treatment of infected animals as quickly as possible, choosing the most effective methods. For piroplasmosis in cattle, complex therapy is carried out. The following is used in treatment:
- specific (etiotropic) drugs;
- complex antibiotics;
- cardiac glycosides, drugs that increase blood clotting;
- broad-spectrum antiparasitic agents.
The main therapy is supplemented with pathogenetic (symptomatic) medications that improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, normalize the functioning of internal organs, and promote recovery.
General recommendations
During treatment, animals are provided with comfortable living conditions. Sick individuals require rest and nutritional adjustments. The diet is supplemented with easily digestible succulent food and B vitamins to normalize digestion. Cows are given whey, sour milk, and preparations based on copper sulfate.
Patients with piroplasmosis cows at pasture keeping cannot be transported over long distances, so veterinarians provide treatment and assistance to animals on the spot. When piroplasmosis is diagnosed in cattle, sick animals, regardless of the method of keeping (stall, pasture), are urgently isolated to prevent infection of healthy animals. Placed in isolated boxes.
Important! All livestock undergo comprehensive tests and rapid tests to detect piroplasms in the blood.
Quarantine is introduced in livestock complexes and farms. A region with numerous outbreaks of the disease is declared unfavorable for this disease.
Special preparations
Good results are noted in the treatment of animals with piroplasmosis using intravenous, subcutaneous etiotropic drugs, such as: “Azidin” (“Berenil”), “Diamidin”, “Hemosporidin”, “Acaprin”, “Tripansin”, “Tripaflavin” "
The dosage, frequency of drug use, and duration of therapy are prescribed individually in each specific case, taking into account the degree of infection, stage of the disease, age, and individual characteristics.
In case of atony of the proventriculus, to stimulate the functioning of the proventriculus in cows and normalize secretory functions, veterinarians prescribe saline solutions (Glauber's salt), oily mild laxatives, vitamins B6, B3, B9, ichthyol, hellebore tincture, and chamomile. Hematopoiesis is stimulated by intravenous administration of vitamin B12, 10% sodium chloride.
Possible danger
Even with timely treatment of piroplasmosis in cows after therapy, problems with the digestive tract and periodic nervous disorders are noted. After completing therapy for several weeks, recovered animals can suffer piroplasmosis. In regions unfavorable for babesiosis, constant monitoring of the general condition of animals is carried out for a year and a half.
Immunity
Animals that have recovered from the disease develop a nonspecific, low-strength immunity that lasts for 6-9 months. The duration of immune protection depends on age and severity of the disease. Therefore, we should not exclude the possibility of re-infection of cattle with piroplasmosis.
Prevention
Timely use of preventive measures will help prevent infection of cattle with piroplasmosis.
Prevention of piroplasmosis in cattle involves:
- systematic treatment of pastures with acaricidal and insecticidal agents;
- constant veterinary monitoring of the condition of the livestock during the grazing period;
- creation of cultivated pastures free from ixodid ticks;
- monthly treatments of the entire livestock with acaricides and repellents.
In regions unfavorable for piroplasmosis, comprehensive chemoprophylaxis is carried out using effective acaricidal agents and chemicals. To prevent babesiosis, cows are injected with Azidine injection solution every 12-14 days.
