Babesiosis is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoan parasites of the genus Babesia. Transmitted by ticks, Babesiosis affects a wide range of domestic and wild animals and occasionally people. Although the major economic impact of Babesiosis is on the cattle industry, infections in other domestic animals, including horses, sheep, goats, pigs, and dogs, assume varying degrees of importance throughout the world.
In this paper, 30 blood sample was collected from a different region of Mianwali. Sample collection criteria of Babesia suspected animals were high fever, appetence, depression, congested mucous membranes, cessation of rumination, and often dark red to brown urine were the most consistent clinical signs in Babesiosis affected cows in acute stages. Coffee-coloured urine was a characteristic clinical feature in severely affected cases.
This study was based on different diagnostic tests of those animals which were suspected of Babesiosis, each whole blood sample underwent a haematological examination and the serum sample was examined for liver function test. PCR was conducted for confirmatory diagnosis. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using software to study the genetic origin of the disease. Out of 30 samples, 10 samples were confirmed microscopically positive and for the confirmation of low-level infection to get the exact number of positive samples, PCR was conducted, in which we found 14 samples positive so the overall infection rate was 50%. Microscopically examination was done by compound microscope at different magnification, primary it was examined on 10X and further to confirm at 100X with oil immersion lens. Microscopically examination of Giemsa-stained slides from diseased cases revealed Babesia as pear-shaped forms inside RBCs. PCR process is done by kit.
The mean values of haemato-biochemical parameters in affected and healthy cows showed a vital decrease in values of Hemoglobin and total red blood cell count in the Babesia affected cows as compared to healthy cows. The results of the medical investigation in cows by Babesiosis disclosed a significant reduction in the erythrocytic count, hemoprotein content and packed cell volume, all of this may be because of the damaging impact of the parasite on erythrocytes in infected cows compared thereof apparently healthy.
The parasitemia level of Bigemina was high in the diseased cases, whereas blood films from the clinically healthy animals were free from Babesia. Moreover, MCV, MCH, and MCHC were non-significantly changed and their values were within the normal range in all animals. These results indicated that Babesiosis affected cows in this study suffered a pronounced normocytic normochromic anaemia during the disease.
Phylogenetic evaluation of Babesiosis had shown to the viable existence. Therefore, molecular, and phylogenetic research are needed in future. These findings advise that Babesiosis impacts the liver and kidneys of the affected animals. The present study can be beneficial in the analysis and treatment (symptomatic) of the disease.
DR SAJID KHAN
LAHORE
