Babesia on the March?

Like last summer, we are seeing a slight increase in case numbers of Babesiosis in cattle.

We tend to receive samples from farms that have not seen the condition before, rather than those that ‘live’ with the condition and on that basis out scanning surveillance system is picking up ‘new cases in new areas’.

What is causing the change and perhaps emerging number of cases is not completely clear? Certainly, we have seen cases this year with ‘new’, non-immune cattle going on to fields with infected ticks. Wildlife moving infected ticks has to be another potential source of infection and changes in land use may be having an impact here?

In very extensively managed cows, some cases have presented as sudden death, others with the more classical clinical signs of lethargy, red water and anaemia with ticks present. Rectal temperature can be both high and low and there may be diarrhoea or constipation depending on the stage of infection.

In one case dealt with at our St Boswells centre last year, visually red water was not noted (although blood was present in some of the urines when tested with a multistix). PCVs ranged from 10% to 19% in the cows tested.

A positive diagnosis can be made on a Giemsa stained blood smear (see below) and PCR, which also identifies the species involved, most commonly Babesia divergens.

We are keen to discuss potential cases with you and interested to track areas where we have not seen the condition before.

Posted by SRUC Veterinary Services on 13/08/2024