Clinical and Morpho-Molecular epidemiology of bovine theileriosis in Kashmir, India

Abstract

Total 1683 cattle were screened for Theileria infections for one calendar year. The overall incidence was 4.34%. It was highest in summer (7.57%), followed by autumn (3.51%). Cattle above 2 years of age (6.19%) particularly Holstein Friesian Cross (5.81%), followed by Jersey Cross (2.77%) were highly infected. Female (4.49%) were mostly affected as compared to male (3.14%). Affected animals showed persistent high fever, tachycardia, tachypnea and reduced ruminal motility. Other important clinical signs were emaciation, swelling of pre-scapular lymph nodes, inappetence, pale mucous membranes or congested mucous membranes, occulo-nasal discharge, corneal opacity, presence of ticks, salivation, coughing and decreased milk production. The diagnostic efficacy of PCR was highest (100%, 73/73), followed by peripheral blood smears examination (93.15%, 68/73) and lymph node biopsy (49.31%, 36/73). There is a consistent increase in the incidence of bovine theileriosis which may be due climate change and import of carrier animals from the neighbouring states.

Theileriosis prevalence status in cattle and buffaloes in India established by systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Based on antigen detection methods, the theileriosis prevalence was high in molecular methods compared to the blood smear examination method. The results from the present study concurred with previous studies (Edith et al 2018, Farooq et al 2019 since PCR is a more sensitive method. The piroplasms show multiple structural forms that culminate in false-negative theileriosis diagnosis by blood smear examination in most cases.…”

Epidemiology, haematology and molecular characterization of haemoprotozoon and rickettsial organisms causing infections in cattle of Jammu region, North India

“…The animals found positive for theileriosis had a history of importation from the neighbouring state, Punjab, having high prevalence of H. anatolicum [ 18 ] and T. annulata [ 5 ]. Owing to meagre presence of vector tick ( H. anatolicum) , considerably low prevalence of theileriosis was found in union territory of Jammu and Kashmir [ 19 ]. Livestock owners import high yielding animals from bordering states of Punjab and Haryana without proper quarantine and thus carrier cattle get transported to non endemic areas, increasing the likelihood of transboundary outbreaks.…”

Bovine Cerebral Theileriosis: First Molecular Confirmed Report in Cross Bred Cattle Calf in India

“…Serological methods have inherent limitations of cross reactivity (Passos et al 1998). Nucleic acid based assays like PCR allow diagnosis of parasite at levels far below the detection limit of the frequently used parasitological techniques and help the con rmation of parasite up to species level by employing species speci c primers (d'Oliveria et al 1995;Farooq et al 2019). Therefore, PCR assay was employed in the present case for species level identi cation of the Theileria responsible for cerebral form of theileriosis.…”