BOVINE BABESIOSIS - European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.pdf

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					                          EAZWV Transmissible Disease Fact Sheet                                 Sheet No. 106

                                     BOVINE BABESIOSIS

 ANIMAL            TRANS-         CLINICAL SIGNS             FATAL           TREATMENT          PREVENTION
 GROUP             MISSION                                 DISEASE ?                            & CONTROL
  Bovine          Tick-borne      Fever, lethargy,             Yes          Diminazene or          In houses
                                  diarrhoea,                                  imidocarb           Tick control
                                  haemoglobinuria                                                   in zoos
                                  icterus                                                         Tick control

Fact sheet compiled by                                       Last update
J. Brandt, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp,              February 2009
Fact sheet reviewed by
D. Geysen, Animal Health, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
F. Vercammen, Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp, Belgium
Susceptible animal groups
The most important species in cattle (Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina and Babesia divergens) are in
general more pathogenic in adult animals than in calves. Infection occurs equally in buffalo, bison and deer.
B.divergens also in rodents and primates.
Causative organism
Several species belonging to the phylum of the Apicomplexa, order Piroplasmida, family Babesiidae;
Pathogenic species are B.bigemina, B.bovis and B.divergens. Babesiosis has been dubbed piroplasmosis,
tick fever, Texas fever, redwater. Other species, i.a. Babesia major, Babesia occultans are considered to be
less or non pathogenic.
Zoonotic potential
B.divergens or B.divergens-like parasites (and the rodent parasite Babesia microti in the USA) are
considered as emerging zoonoses often studied in association with other tick-borne infections such as Lyme
disease and human granulocytic anaplasmosis/ehrlichiosis or in immunocompromised or splenectomised
B.bigemina and B.bovis: South and Central America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Central Asia, Australia.
B.divergens: common Babesia sp. of cattle in Europe.
B.major: North Africa and Europe.
Ticks of the genera Boophilus, Rhipicephalus, Haemaphysalis or Ixodes with transovarial transmission as a
rule. Specificity for the definite host can be very strict and is decisive for the distribution; e.g. B.bovis and
B.bigemina are mainly transmitted by the one-host Boophilus spp. where Boophilus decoloratus transmits
B.bigemina but not B.bovis, for the latter Boophilus microplus is the main vector. B.divergens is transmitted
by the 3-host tick, Ixodes ricinus. Haemaphysalis punctata is an important host of B.major. but it occurs
equally in Boophilus sp. and in Ixodes sp.
Mechanical transmission is possible.
Incubation period
In general one to two weeks p.i. but this and the course of the infection depend on many factors: inoculum,
age, breed and physiological status of the intermediate host. Adults are more susceptible than calves,
European breeds and Zebu (except for B.bovis) more susceptible than African breeds, perinatal suppression
and concomitant infections (e.g. Anaplasma (Ehrlichia) phagocytophila and B.divergens) are known to
Clinical symptoms
Fever, lethargy, diarrhoea, haemolytic anaemia, tachycardia, haemoglobinuria and icterus are common
features of acute infections. Chronic infections often without apparent haemoglobinuria. Acute B.bovis often
develops in fatal cerebral babesiosis with hyperaesthesia, convulsions and paralysis due to aggregation of
red blood cells in the cerebral capillaries and extravascular, following endothelial damage. No or little
pathogenicity contributed to B.major. Recovered animals become carriers, without apparent clinical
                         EAZWV Transmissible Disease Fact Sheet                              Sheet No. 106

symptoms, but with possibility to relapse under stress conditions. They also remain infective.
Post mortem findings
Icteric appearance of the tissues, splenomegaly, congested liver with distended gall bladder, kidneys
congested and haemorraghic, subcutaneous and pulmonary oedema , sero-haemorraghic fluid in all cavities,
urinary bladder with reddish or brownish urine (not in chronic babesiosis). In cases of B.bovis with nervous
symptoms, petechiae and oedemateous congestion of the brain. Petechiae and ecchymosis in the epi- and
myocard and the kidneys.
Direct diagnosis: piriform merozoites in blood smears after staining (Giemsa after fixation) preferably from
capillary blood (B.bovis) or at necropsy, in brain smears (B.bovis) where clumps of infected erythrocytes can
be observed in microthrombi.
B.bigemina: relatively large merozoites round (2-3 m) or irregular elongated shape (up to 5 m), also in
blood from the general circulation. Paired forms often in acute angle.
B.bovis: parasitaemias usually very low. Mostly annular vacuolised forms. Paired forms often in obtuse
angle. Piroplasms measure 1.5-2 m and are in the centre of the cells.
B.divergens: small merozoites ring-shaped or piriform, when paired in an obtuse angle 1.5-2 m, often at the
border of infected cells.
B.major: resembles B.bovis, centrally positioned, annular forms measure 1.8 m, elongated (pear-) shaped
forms 2.6-3.7 m.
PCR and antibody detection assays. Immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and slide-enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (SELISA) are satisfactory but cross reactions between Babesia spp. do not allow
speciation. Antigen slides are prepared from controlled infections in splenctomised bovines or from Meriones
sp. (B.divergens).
Material required for laboratory analysis
Thin blood smears or EDTA-anticoagulated blood. When B.bovis is suspected preferably capillary blood has
to be taken and for cerebral B.bovis, smears of brain capillaries.
Parasitaemias in latent infections are often too low to be detected, thick smears sometimes prepared from
RBC just underneath the buffy coat and repeated sampling can improve detection.
OIE Reference Laboratory
•   Prof. Ikuo Igarashi
    Inada-cho Nishi 2-13, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555
    Tel: (81.155) 49.56.42 Fax: (81.155) 49.56.43
Relevant diagnostic laboratories
CODA, Groeselenberg 99, 1180 Brussel, Belgium
Diamidine derivates are well tolerated and have good activity (1) Diminazene at 3.5 mg/kg b.w. i.m. curative
and (2) Imidocarb at 1.2 mg/kg b.w. i.m. or s.c. curative or 3 mg/kg b.w. prophylactic (for 3 to 6 weeks).
Prevention and control in zoos
Tick control by acaricidal treatment or vaccination in domestic animals might be superfluous in a supposedly
tick free environment of the zoo, but specific attention to tick prevention in imported animals is
Suggested disinfectant for housing facilities


Guarantees required under EU Legislation

Guarantees required by EAZA Zoos

Measures required under the Animal Disease Surveillance Plan

Measures required for introducing animals from non-approved sources

Measures to be taken in case of disease outbreak or positive laboratory findings

Conditions for restoring disease-free status after an outbreak
                         EAZWV Transmissible Disease Fact Sheet                              Sheet No. 106

Contacts for further information

1. Bock RE, Kingston TG, Devos AJ (1999) Effect of breed of cattle on transmission rate and innate
     resistance to infection with Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina transmitted by Boophilus microplus.
     Austr Vet J 77: 461-464.
2. Brown CDG, Hunter AG, Luckins AG. Bovine babesiosis. In: Sewell MMH, Brocklesby DW (eds.).
     Handbook on Animal Diseases in the Tropics, Chapter: Diseases caused by protozoa. Baillière Tindall,
     1990, 161-170.
3. Brunhansen H, Christensson DA, Hardeng F, Gronstol H (1997) Experimental infection with Ehrlichia
     phagocytophila and Babesia divergens in cattle. J Vet Med 44: 235-243.
4. De Vos AJ, Potgieter FT. Bovine babesiosis. In: Infectious Diseases of Livestock. Coetzer JAW, Thomson
     GR, Tustin RC (eds.) Oxford University Press, 1994, 277-294.
5. Gray J, von Stedingk L.V, Granstrom M (2002) Zoonotic babesiosis. Int J Med Microbiol 291: 108-111.
6. L'Hostis M, Seegers H (2002) Tick-borne parasitic diseases in cattle: current knowledge and prospective
     risk analysis related to the ongoing evolution in French cattle farming systems. Vet Res 33: 599-611.
7. Kanyari PWN, Kagira J (2000) The role of parasitic diseases as causes of mortality in cattle in a high
     potential area of central Kenya: a quantitative analysis. Onderstepoort J Vet Res 67: 157-161.
8. Kocan AA., Waldrup KA. Piroplasms (Theileria spp., Cytauxzoon spp., and Babesia spp.). In: Samuel WM,
     Pybus MJ, Kocan AA (eds.). Parasitic Diseases of Wild Mammals, Chapter 18: Blood-Inhabiting
     Protozoans. Iowa State University Press, 2001, 524-536.
9. Schetters TPM, Kleuskens J, Scholtes N, Gorenflot A (1998) Parasite localization and dissemination in the
     Babesia- infected host. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 92: 513-519.
10. Sevinc F, Sevinc M, Birdane FM, Altinoz F (2001) Prevalence of Babesia bigemina in cattle. Rev Med
     Vet 152: 395-398.
11. Taylor M (2000) Protozoal disease in cattle and sheep. In Practice 22: 604-617.

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