The Japanese Journal of Veterinary Science
Online ISSN : 1881-1442
Print ISSN : 0021-5295
ISSN-L : 0021-5295
Bovine Babesiosis in Japan : Clinical and Clinico-pathological Studies on Cattle Experimentally Infected with Babesia ovata
Toru FUJINAGA
Author information
JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1981 Volume 43 Issue 6 Pages 803-813

Details
Abstract
The pathogenicity of Babesia ovata was studies clinically, hematologically and blood-chemically in splenectomized and non-splenectomized cattle experimentally infected with this parasite. In six splenectomized cattle, the parasite multiplied markedly in the blood stream soon after inoculation. An elevated rectal temperature, anorexia, severe anemia, icterus and hemoglobinuria were observed clinically. Two of six cattle died. Hematologically, a marked decrease was observed in erythrocyte count, packed cell volume, hemoglobin level, leukocyte count and platelet count, as parasitemia increased in severity. Conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin, glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen and uric acid levels were elevated, but total serum protein and blood glucose levels declined during the hemolytic phase. On urinalysis, hemoglobinuria, urobilinuria and proteinuria were present at the same time. It is considered that these changes have close relation to the multiplication of parasites in the blood stream and that the higher the intensity of parasitemia, the severer clinical symptoms are. Parasitemia was very mild in six non-splenectomized cattle in which anemia was also mild. Consequently, clinical, hematological and blood-chemical changes were relatively mild in these cattle. Therefore, it is considered that the pathogenicity of Babesia ovata was characterized not only by anemia, icterus and hemoglobinuria, but also by hepatic and renal dysfunction when parasites multiplied markedly in the blood stream due to such immuno-suppressive factors as splenectomy.
Content from these authors
© The Japanese Society of Veterinary Science
Previous article Next article
feedback
Top