Losses of milk production due to Babesia bigemina infection in a cross bred cow: A case study

Abstract

High rise of temperature (41.3 ℃), hemoglobinurea, anorexia, decrease milk production, anemia and diarrhea were observed in a cross-bred cow of aged 4 years, maintained in the dairy farm of ICAR research complex for North Eastern Hill Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, India, in its 3 months of lactation. After examination of Giemsa stained blood smears and molecular diagnosis using polymerase chain reaction, the disease was diagnosed as babesiosis caused by Babesia bigemina. The animal was treated successfully with a single injection of 4,4' diamidine diazoamine benzene diaceturate in recommended dose. No parasite was detected by examination of Giemsa stained blood smears after a period of 48 hours post treatment onwards. A total loss of 51.6 liter milk production and an economic loss of Rs.1032.00 due to decreased milk production were calculated for a period of 30 days, from this clinical case of babesiosis caused by natural B. bigemina in a cross-bred cow. This may be considered as first report