**2.4 Clinical findings**

#### **2.4.1 Cattle**

Incubation period is 2-3 weeks. B. bigemina and B. bovis produce acute syndromes which are clinically indistinguishable, and are characterized by high fever (41C), anorexia, depression, weakness, cessation of rumination, and a fall in milk yield. Hemoglobinuria can be seen, the color of urine is dark-red to brown. Respiratory and heart rates are increased, and the red conjunctivate and mucous membranes change to the extreme pallor of severe anemia. Abortion ocur in pregnant animals (Radostits et al., 2000). Subacute syndrome also occurs in young animals, but fever is mild and hemoglobinuria is absent (Radostits et al., 2008).

In cerebral babesiosis, hyperexcitability, convulsions, opisthotonos, coma, and death, may be observed in cattle infected with either B. bigemina or B. bovis, but especially with the B. bovis. Central nervous system signs are caused by brain anoxia resulting from severe anemia (Zaugg, 2009).

#### **2.4.2 Sheep**

In sheep develop fever and parasitemia within 2 to 4 days; the clinical signs of the disease include anorexia, listlessness, anemia, moderate jaundice and hemoglobinuria. In intact animals, hyperthermia returned to normal on the fourth day after the peak pyrexia, and parasitemia is eliminated within the course of the disease (Rahbari et al., 2008).

#### **2.5 Diagnosis**

476 A Bird's-Eye View of Veterinary Medicine

In sheep and goats, babesiosis is associated with B. ovis and B. motas. Babesia ovis occur in Southern Europe, former Soviet State, Middle East and Asia. Rhipicephalus bursa has been shown to be a vector for B. ovis. Babesia motasi occur in Southern Europe, the Middle East, the former Soviet State, southeast Asia and Africa. The parasite transmitted by ticks of the genus Haemaphysalis (H. Punctata, H. Otophila), Dermacentor (D. silvarum) and

Babesia spp. are a various group of tickborne, obligate, intra-erythrocytic Apicomplexan parasites infecting a wide variety of animals. Ticks are most often infected transovarially. The female tick becomes infected by the ingestion of parasites during engorgement. After it drops off the host, the babesial agents reproduce within the tick's tissues. Some of the reproducing organisms are incorporated within developing tick embryos, and the disease agents are transmitted to new hosts by the feding of ensuing tick larvae, nymphs, or adults

B. bovis is the most pathogenic of the bovine Babesia. B. bigemina infections are not as virulent as those of B. bovis, however the parasites may infect 40% of the red cells (Taylor et

Babesia affecting small ruminants are generally less pathogenic than their bovine likes

Incubation period is 2-3 weeks. B. bigemina and B. bovis produce acute syndromes which are clinically indistinguishable, and are characterized by high fever (41C), anorexia, depression, weakness, cessation of rumination, and a fall in milk yield. Hemoglobinuria can be seen, the color of urine is dark-red to brown. Respiratory and heart rates are increased, and the red conjunctivate and mucous membranes change to the extreme pallor of severe anemia. Abortion ocur in pregnant animals (Radostits et al., 2000). Subacute syndrome also occurs in young animals, but fever is mild and hemoglobinuria is absent (Radostits et al.,

In cerebral babesiosis, hyperexcitability, convulsions, opisthotonos, coma, and death, may be observed in cattle infected with either B. bigemina or B. bovis, but especially with the B. bovis. Central nervous system signs are caused by brain anoxia resulting from severe

In sheep develop fever and parasitemia within 2 to 4 days; the clinical signs of the disease include anorexia, listlessness, anemia, moderate jaundice and hemoglobinuria. In intact animals, hyperthermia returned to normal on the fourth day after the peak pyrexia, and

parasitemia is eliminated within the course of the disease (Rahbari et al., 2008).

**2.2.2 Sheep and goats** 

**2.3 Pathogenesis** 

(Zaugg, 2009).

(Cebra, C., and Cebra, M., 2002a).

**2.4 Clinical findings** 

anemia (Zaugg, 2009).

**2.4.2 Sheep** 

al., 2007).

**2.4.1 Cattle** 

2008).

Rhipicephalus (R. Bursa)( Taylor et al., 2007).

Blood smears and clinical findingd are useful in acute cases of piroplasmosis, but are not sufficient in subclinical cases. The complement fixation test is used serological test for bovine babesiosis. The most commonly used tests are ELISA, PCR and a DNA probe, which can detect specific parasitemias at very low levels of infection (Radostits, 2008). Recently, the 'reverse line blot (RLB) is a versatile technique for simultaneous detection and identification of small ruminant piroplasm species, based on the recognition of specific gene regions by oligonucleotide probes (Nagore et al., 2004; Qingli et al., 2009; Inci et al., 2010;).

#### **2.6 Treatment and control**

After the hemoglobinuria or cerebral signs, prognosis is not well. In acute cases that PVC values are above 12%, treatment will be successful. Supportive therapy such as blood transfusions (4 L of whole blood per 250 kg of body weight), fluids, hematinics, and prophylactic antibiotics are important (Zaugg, 2009). Babesiosis can be treated using diminazene aceturate (3-5 mg/ kg), phenemidine diisethionate (8-13 mg/ kg), imidocarb dipropionate (1-3 mg/kg), and amicarbalide diisethionate (5-10 mg /kg) (Cebra, C., and Cebra, M., 2002a; Taylor, 2007; Radostits, 2008; Zaugg, 2009).

The control of the disease depends on effective quarantine to prevent the introduction of the vector tick. The control of ticks by dipping or spraying animals at risk with recommended acaricides. In routine surgery, Care should be taken to prevent accidental transfer of blood from one animal to another (e.g., castration, dehorning). In addition, in cattle, the selection and breeding of cattle which acquire a high degree of resistance to ticks is practiced. Widespread use of tick vaccines may also have a significant influence on the incidence of infection in cattle (Taylor et al., 2007; Radostits et al., 2008; Zaugg, 2009).
