Prevalence of Bovine Tropical Theileriosis in Cattle in Quetta Balochistan-Pakistan

Bovine Tropical Theileriosis (BTT), caused by the protozoan parasite Theileria annulata, is an endemic disease in most tropical and subtropical nations across Northern Africa, West and East Asia, and the Indian subcontinent [1]. The tick vector Hyalomma anatolicum transmits tropical theileriosis. Theileria spp. are little round, ovoid, irregular, or bacilliform parasites with a rhoptries only apical complex. Theileria sp can be detected in their host’s erythrocytes and lymphocytes. Infections caused by the parasite range from clinically inapparent to swiftly deadly [2]. In tropical theileriosis, losses in terms of immunization and treatment costs, reduction in live weight of sub-clinical cases, animal mortality, increase in inter-calving interval, milk output, and delay in the age of maturity of affected female animals have all been documented [3]. T. annulata has a death rate of 70 % in calves, with a case fatality rate of 10-20 %, whereas T. parva has a mortality rate of 100% in exotic cattle [4]. Theileriosis in cattle manifests themselves clinically 7 to 15 days after infected ticks are attached. The temperature rises quickly, generally exceeding 103 °F but occasionally reaching 106 °F [5]. Anorexia, anemia, and a loss of body condition will occur. Lacrimation, ocular opacity, nasal discharge, dyspnea, and diarrhea are some of the other symptoms. The animal is normally recumbent before death, its temperature drops, and pulmonary edema causes severe dyspnea. Theileria piroplasm in RBC and schizont in lymphocyte and macroschizonts in Giemsa-stained lymph node biopsy smears in live animals and impression smears of lymph node and spleen in dead animals are commonly used to diagnose clinical T. annulata infection in cattle [6]. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of Tropical theileriosis in crossbred and native cattle in the Quetta- Baluchistan.

The materials for this study were n = 300 cattle (cross-bred and indigenous) of all sexes and ages exhibiting signs of fever, anorexia, with or without superficial lymph node enlargement from various dairy farms in and around Quetta, Balochistan. Clinical examination and detection of Theileria annulata parasite in blood smear and/or schizont stage of parasite in lymph node biopsy smear examination were used to screen animals for tropical theileriosis. Fever, anorexia, lymph node (prescapular, prefemoral) enlargement (unilateral or bilateral), pale conjunctival mucous membrane, increased respiration rate and heart rate, decreased milk supply, lacrimation, rumen motility, and nervous symptoms were all recorded in suspected animals. Blood smears were stained with Giemsa’s stain and analyzed under oil immersion for Theileria piroplasm in red blood cells and schizont in lymphocytes shortly after blood samples were collected. The needle aspiration biopsy of the prescapular lymph node was conducted according to standard procedure, and the aspirated material was used to make a slide. After staining with Giemsa, the slide was evaluated for the presence of macro schizont in lymphoblastoid cells. The frequency of Tropical theileriosis in cattle was investigated using age, sex, and breed as criteria.

Prevalence in general Out of n = 300 cattle tested positive for Tropical Theileriosis, showing a frequency of 24.33%. High fever, enlargement of the pre-scapular and pre-femoral lymph nodes, weakness, in appetence, lacrimation, pale conjunctival mucosae, increased respiration, and pulse rate were all observed in the affected animals. Affected animals also had lower milk yields and a decrease of body condition.

Prevalence by gender

The prevalence of Tropical theileriosis in cattle was 27.37 % in female cattle and 19.09 % in male cattle, showing that female cattle have a greater prevalence of Tropical theileriosis than male cattle (Table 1).

Table 1: Prevalence of Tropical Theileriosis in cattle in respect to gender.

The current findings were consistent with those of [7-10], who all found that female animals had a greater prevalence of T. annulata infection. The greater prevalence of Tropical theileriosis in female cattle could be due to immunosuppression during advanced pregnancy and lactation in high-producing animals [11]. Furthermore, the higher prevalence of Tropical theileriosis in female animals could be related to the widespread use of contaminated needles for injecting milk let down medications.

Prevalence by age

Table 2:Prevalence of Tropical Theileriosis in cattle in respect to Age.

The prevalence of tropical theileriosis in cattle was found to be highest 28.33% in adult cattle over 3 years old, followed by 21.33% in animals 1 to 3 years old, and 13.33% in animals 0 to 1 year old in a study on the influence of age on the prevalence of tropical theileriosis in cattle (Table 2). The current findings were consistent with those of [12,13] who found the highest incidence in animals older than 3 years and the lowest prevalence in animals younger than one year. Innate and acquired immunity may be to blame for the lowest occurrence among one-year-olds.

Prevalence by breed

Table 3:Prevalence of Tropical Theileriosis in cattle in respect to Breeds.

Tropical theileriosis in cattle was found to be prevalent in 15.71% in Red Sindhi, 23.33% in Sahiwal, 25.33% in Jersey cross, and 30.53% in Holstein Friesian cross cattle’s (Table 3). This study discovered a significant difference in the prevalence rate of Tropical theileriosis by breed. According to [14], crossbred cattle have a greater prevalence 19.40% of tick-borne disease than indigenous cattle, such as Red Sindhi 17% and Dhanni 14% breeds. Due to a higher tick infestation, European breeds are more prone to Tickborne diseases [15-17].

The authors declare no conflict of interest for this research work.

Authors of this research are thankful to all private dairy farms staff for their support and cooperation in collection of sampling

1. Chen PP, Conrad PA, Dolan TT (2000) Detection of Theileria parva in salivary glands of Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks and host animals. Parasitol Res 77(3): 590-594.
2. Darghouth MEA, Bouattour A, Ben Miled L, Sassi L (1996) Diagnosis of Theileria annulata infection of cattle in Tunisia: comparison of serology and blood smears. Vet Res 27(6): 613-621.
3. Gharbi M, Sassi L, Dorchies P, Darghouth MA (2006) Infection of calves with Theileria annulata in Tunisia. Economic analysis and evaluation of the potential benefi t of vaccination. Vet Parasitol 137(3-4): 231-241.
4. Moorhouse PDS, Musisi FL, Mwase ET, Snacken M (2001) The epidemiology of bovine theileriosis in Zambia: results of a longitudinal study in Southern Province. In: Proceedings of the 4^th International Symposium on Veterinary Epidemiology and Economics. Singapore Veterinary Association, Singapore, Pp. 389-391.
5. Morrison WI (2004) Theileria annulata: kinetics of infection in lymphoid system of cattle. Exp Parasitol 52(2): 248-260.
6. Aktas M, Dumani N, Etinkaya B, Ahmad A (2001) Field evaluation of PCR in detecting Theileria anualata infections in cattle in the eastern Turkey. Vet Rec 94(4): 413-423.
7. Song KH, Sang BC (2003) Prevalence of Theileria sergenti infection in Korean native cattle by polymerage chain reaction. Korean J Parasitol 41(3): 141-145.
8. Atif FA, Khan MS, Iqbal HJ, Arshad GM, Ashraf E, et al. (2012) Prevalence of Anaplasma marginale, Babesia bigemina and Theileria annulata infections among cattle in Sargodha District, Pakistan. Afr J Agric Res 7(22): 3302-3307.
9. Durrani AZ (2008) Epidemiology, serodiagnosis and chemoprophylaxis of theileriosis in cattle. University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore. 96 (102): 105-122.
10. Rajput ZI, Song hua HU, Arijo AG, Habib M, Khalid M (2005) Comparative study of Anaplasma parasites in tick carrying buffaloes and cattle. J Zhejiang Univ Sci 6(11): 1057-1062.
11. Kocan KM, de la Fuente J, Bouin EF, Coetzee JF, Ewing SA (2010) The natural history of Anaplasma marginale. Vet Parasitol 167(2-4): 95-107.
12. Ruprah NS (1985) Text book of Clinical Protozoology, Oxanian Press Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, pp. 286.
13. Roy S, Tiwari A, Galdhar CN, Upadhyay SR, Ratre HK, et al. (2004) Epidemiological features of haemoprotozoan diseases of bovines in Chhattisgarh. Indian J Vet Med 24: 5-7.
14. sKhan MQ, Zahoor A, Jahangir M, Mirza MA (2004) Prevalence of blood parasites in cattle and buffaloes. Vet J 24(4): 193-195.
15. Bock RE, de Vos AJ, Kingston TG, McLellan DJ (1997) Effect of breed of cattle on innate resistance to infection with Babesia bovis, B bigemina and Anaplasma marginale. Aust Vet J 75(5): 337-340.
16. Glass EJ, Craigmile SC, Springbett A, Preston PM, Kirvar E, et al. (2003) The protozoan parasite Theileria annulata induces a distinct acute phase protein response in the cattle that is associated with pathology. Int J Parasitol 33(12): 1409-1418.
17. Mbwambo HA, Sudi FF, Mkonyi PA, Mfi nanga JM, Mella ES, et al. (2002) Comparative studies of the efficacy of parvaquone and parvaquone-plus-frusemide in the treatment of Theileria parva infection (East Coast fever) in cattle. Vet Parasitol 108(3): 195-205.