Intra uterine infection of Babesia organisms in a new-born calf

Abstract

Among the various species of Babesia, Bovine babesiosis is mainly caused by Babesia bigemina and Babesia bovis. Babesia species are mainly transmitted by ticks and generally young calves immune to Babesia infection. In this case report, babesiosis was diagnosed in 5–days old Holstein- Friesian calf based on clinical signs, blood smear and haematological examination. Calf showed clinical signs of dull, depressed, high fever (106.20F), congested mucous membrane, increased respiratory and heart rate with thumping sound, haemoglobinuria and profuse diarrhoea. The peripheral blood smear revealed the presence of usually paired Babesia organisms inside erythrocytes. Haematological study revealed reduced Hb level (4.6 gm %). Microscopic blood smear examination of the mother cow also revealed less than one percent of the erythrocytes were infected with Babesia parasites. Calf was treated with a single dose of Diminazene aceturate @ 3.5 mg/kg body weight deep intramuscular route along with supportive therapy consisting of antipyretic, antihistaminic and antidiarhoeal. This is a rare report of intrauterine infection of Babesiosis in a new-born calf.