Open AccessBovine piroplasmosis‐anaplasmosis and clinical signs of tropical theileriosis in the plains of Djurdjura (north Algeria)
Author(s) -
Ziam Hocine,
Kernif Tahar,
Saidani Khelaf,
Kelanemer Rabah,
Hammaz Zoheir,
Geysen Dirk
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
veterinary medicine and science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.485
H-Index - 11
ISSN - 2053-1095
DOI - 10.1002/vms3.305
Subject(s) - anorexia , anaplasmosis , veterinary medicine , incubation period , babesia bigemina , biology , babesia bovis , medicine , zoology , incubation , babesiosis , tick , biochemistry
The study was conducted during tick activity season over a period of 5 years in the Djurdjura Plains, Algeria. A total of 299 cattle (Holstein, Montbeliard, Fleckvieh and crossbred animals) with clinical signs were included in this study. A total of 171 animals were found positive for at least one pathogen by Giemsa‐stained blood smears examination Theileria annulata (136/299, 45.5%), Babesia bovis (14/299, 4.7%), B. bigemina (3/299, 1.0%) and Anaplasma marginale (12/299, 4.0%) were identified. Six animals were co‐infected by T. annulata and A. marginale . Although no ticks were collected from diseased animals, clinical signs in cattle were hyperthermia (120/136, 88.3%), gluttony followed by anorexia (113/136, 83.1%), lymph node enlargement (99/136, 72.8%), anaemia (82/136, 60.3%), icterus (58/136, 42.6%) and haemoglobinuria (36/136, 26.5%). Gluttony followed by anorexia was considered highly suggestive of an incubation of tropical theileriosis as shown by a higher receptivity index (IR = 0.89–1). This clinical sign is evident in young Montbeliard and young Holstein males with anaemia (IR = 1) and icterus (IR = 0.78–0.81) which is earlier than haemoglobinuria (IR = 0.51–0.54). The incidence of T. annulata was maximum in July ( n = 57), as well as B. bovis ( n = 6) and A. marginale ( n = 13). These results highlight the preponderance of tropical theileriosis in north‐central Algeria, where gluttony followed by anorexia is probably a prodromal symptom during the incubation period of the disease.