Co-infection status of clinical resistant Theileria, Babesia and Anaplasma parasites in Holstein Friesian cows in an organized dairy farm

Abstract

Studies on the prevalence of hemoprotozoan parasites in a dairy farm with a population of 22 Holstein Friesian cows were carried out in a private farm near Paralakhemundi, Odisha state, India, infested with Ixodes species ticks. The Holstein Friesian were studied and confirmed for their disease-free status for inter-current infections and for their milk yield. On this basis, a total number of 22 Holstein Friesian cows aged between 3-6 years in a dairy farm were included in this study. The Holstein Friesian cows were subjected to blood smear examination and hematological studies which revealed the presence of co-infection of Theileria annulata, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale organisms in 14 Holstein Friesian cows out of 22, with altered hematological parameters, which indicated the co-infection status of the above hemoprotozoans. All the animals on clinical examination were in apparently normal status except for the infestation of the animals with Ixodes ticks. An epidemiological point of view, the prevalence of clinical resistant co-infections of Theileria annulata, Babesia bigemina and Anaplasma marginale organisms are likely to be a risk factor, posed for the development of Theieria annulata, Babesia bigemina, and Anaplasma marginale co-infections in this Holstein Friesian cows of this farm.