Research Article

 

Haemato- Biochemical and Electrolyte Alterations in Naturally Occurring Theileria Associated Bovine Anaemia (Taba)

 

Yogeshpriya Somu1, Saravanan Mani2, Ranjithkumar Muthusamy2, Sivakumar Mani1, Arulkumar Thangamani2, Jayalakshmi Konappan1, Veeraselvam Muthusamy1, Krishna Kumar Subbaih1, Selvaraj Palanisamy1

1Department of Veterinary Medicine; 2Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Orathanadu, Thanjavur – 614 625, India.

 

Editor | Asghar Ali Kamboh, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan.

Received | May 19, 2017; Accepted | May 25, 2017; Published | Mayl 27, 2017

*Correspondence | Dr.S.Yogeshpriya, Assistant Professor, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathandu-614625, Tamilnadu; Email: dryogeshpriya@gmail.com

Citation | Somu Y, Mani S, Muthusamy R, Mani S, Thangamani A, Konappan J, Muthusamy V, Subbaih KK, Palanisamy S (2017). Haemato- biochemical and electrolyte alterations in naturally occurring theileria associated bovine anaemia (taba). J. Anim. Health Prod. 5(2): 64-67.

DOI | http://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.jahp/2017/5.2.64.67

ISSN (Online) | 2307-8316; ISSN (Print) | 2309-3331

Copyright © 2017 Yogeshpriya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

 

Introduction

 

Theileriosis is tick-borne diseases of domestic ruminants which is caused by various species of Theileria including Theileria annulata and Theileria parva. It resulted in reduced milk production, reduced weight, blood loss, damages to hides and skins, stress and irritation and depression of immune function (Tehrani et al., 2013). Bovine anaemia occurs in three forms viz, haemorrhagic anaemia, haemolytic anaemia and anaemia due to reduced or defective erythropoiesis (Singh et al., 2014). In the field, tentative diagnosis of theileriosis is mainly based on clinical signs and tick infestation on the infected animals. However, confirmation of the diagnosis depends on microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained thin blood smears. The demonstration of Koch’s blue bodies in the lymphocytes and monocytes of the lymph node smear or peripheral blood film is pathognomonic of the disease. From 1980 to till now, Buparvaquone is the most specific drug used against theileriosis (Muller et al., 2015).

 

In their mammalian hosts, they have complex life cycle. Infection is initiated by transmutation of microschizont infected the cell in the lymph nodes draining the site of inoculation of sporozoites by ticks, the sporozoit transformation into schizont in the lymphocytes, the schizont undergoes further differentiation to merozoites, which are released upon lysis of the infected cells. This is followed by the development of piroplasms in erythrocytes and the parasite becomes infective for the vector. It results alterations in the blood quality (Singh et al., 2014). So the present study was undertaken to obtain the clinical appraisal and haemato-biochemical alterations in cattle suffering from theileria associated bovine anaemia (TABA).

 

Materials and Methods

 

A total of 102 cross bred cows of age 2-5 years were included in the study during the period of April 2015 to March 2016. Twelve animals of same age were kept as healthy controls. Cattle were screened for anaemia on the basis of packed cell volume (Al-Robayi, 1999). Clinical and parasitological observations were recorded from all the animals showing symptoms of acute clinical theileriosis. The conjunctiva and vaginal mucous membranes were examined. Animals showing a rectal temperature above 39ºC were considered to be suffering from fever. Biopsies were taken from enlarged nodes (Al-Robayi, 1999). Thin blood smears were prepared from sick cattle, fixed with methanol, and stained with Giemsa dye. For estimating parasitaemia, the percentage of piroplasm-infected erythrocytes was calculated in 100 cells. The results were recorded in percentages (Ramazan and Ugur, 2007). Similarly, lymph node biopsy smears were stained with Giemsa stain and examined for schizonts according the procedure of Al-Robayi (1999).

 

Relevant clinical materials were collected at the time of admission. Five ml of whole blood was collected from jugular vein of the selected cattle in vials containing EDTA as anticoagulants (Benjamin, 1985). About 5 ml of blood was collected in another vial on the day of admission to separate serum for biochemical examination. Sera thus separated were stored at -20°C till further analysis. Total erythrocyte count (TEC), haemoglobin (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and total white blood cell count were estimated as per the method described by Schalm et al. (1975).

 

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, serum total proteins and serum albumin were estimated using semiautomatic analyzer, as per the manufacturer’s instructions and using standard kits. Whereas ionized calcium, sodium, chloride, total calcium and potassium were analyzed by using automatic electrolyte analyzer.

 

Data were analysed wherever indicated as per Snedector and Cochran (1994). The significant levels were based on p<0.05 unless otherwise stated.

 

Results and discussion

 

Radostits et al. (2010) stated that the anaemia in animals mainly occurs due to blood protozoa and endo- and ecto-paraites. The screening showed that 12 (11.76%) of 102 cattle were anaemic. Blood smear examinations revealed presence of theileria organism inside the red blood cells. It is one of the most important causes of anaemia among cattle in India. Clinical symptoms on TABA were fever, anorexia, enlargement of lymphnodes and lacrimation, occasionally episodes of diarrhoea. These symptoms are similar to those reported theileria in cows (Hosary et al., 2015; Ahmed, 2016). Haematological values of Hb, PCV, TEC, MCV and MCHC were significantly (p < 0.05) lower in theileria affected anaemic cattle when compared to non-anaemic healthy cattle (Table 1). Reduction of those above said values probably due to severe damage caused by organisms inside the erythrocyte during their multiplication (Ganguly et al., 2015). Blood indices showed microcytic, normochromic anaemia. Increased MCH value when compared to the normal animal showed animals were in haemolytic condition. Similar findings were obtained by Feldman et al. (2000). Toxic metabolites of theileria spp. which have harmful effect on bone marrow as they interfere with the process of erythropoiesis. Persistent loss of blood caused by permanent blood sucking ticks which play a role as well. This was in agreement with Durrani et al. (2008) who reported most of theileria affected animals had tick infestation. No statistically significant (p > 0.05) levels of leukocytes observed in the infected group. Furthermore relative increases in the number of lymphocytes observed in the present study reflect compensatory mechanism as target cells in response to invasion with Theileria spp. Yamaguchi et al. (2010) suggested that the lymphocytosis may be due to theilerial parasites which stimulate the host cells.

 

As shown in Table 2, the biochemical analysis in the present study showed statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in serum total protein and albumin concentration. The mean value of total plasma protein and albumin decreased significantly (p<0.05) in anaemic cattle as compared to non-anaemic cattle. These results were in agreement with (Singh et al., 2001; Saber et al., 2008) who observed the hypoproteinaemia and hypoalbuminemia in theileria affected cattle which is possibly due to the harmful effect of toxic metabolites of theileria and due to liver failure.

 

The BUN and creatinine levels in the present study were increased statistically (p<0.05) at significant level when compared to healthy cattle. This was in agreement with Sandhu et al. (1998) who suggested increased levels of BUN and creatinine in theileria associated cattle and suggested that these changes probably due to liver and renal damage.

 

On the other hand, comparisons of electrolyte balance in this study showed statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in sodium and ionized calcium concentrations of anaemic animals when compared to the control group. However, differences in potassium and total calcium levels were not significant (p>0.05). In theileria infection of cattle, hypocalcaemia was probably due to the hypoproteinaemia, decreased dietary intake, intestinal malfunction, and kidney damage as suggested by Omer et al. (2008). Early detection and clinical management can help to resolve the condition of TABA. In our study, the alterations in blood picture were significantly improved by administration of buparvaquone (50mg/20kg bw IM).

 

Table 1: Comparison of haematological parameters of theileria infected cross bred cows with healthy cows

 

Parameters	Infected group (n=12)	Control group (n=12)
Hemoglobin (g/dl)	6.75±1.41*	10.65±2.06
Packed Cell Volume (%)	22.44±5.76*	32.74±1.12
Total Erythrocyte Count (106/µl)	4.46±1.13*	8.39±0.75
Mean Corpuscular Volume (fl)	51.56±13.34*	58.40±0.60
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (pg)	60±3.66	13.17±2.17
Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (g/dl )	28.18±6.2*	31.24±1.56
White Blood Cell (x103/µl)	7.1±3.21	4-12

 

* Indicates significant level between groups (p < 0.05)

 

Table 2: Comparison of biochemical and electrolyte parameters of theileria infected cross bred cows with healthy cows

 

Parameters	Infected group (n=12)	Control group (n=12)
Sodium (Mmol/l)	121.32±10.81*	142.11± 2.7
Potassium (Mmol/l)	4.32±0.36	3.8-5.1
Chloride (Mmol/l)	103.38±15.26	96-109
Ionized Ca level (Mmol/l)	0.90±0.6*	1.02±0.08
Total calcium (Mmol/l)	2.5±1.5	2.8±0.8
Albumin (g/dl)	1.48±0.54*	3.61.56±1.14
Total protein (g/dl)	4.12±1.97*	6.38 ±0.68
Creatinine (µmol/dl)	1.34±0.08*	0.8±0.01
blood urea nitrogen (mmol/ml)	20.83±0.9*	18.4 ± 2.3

 

* Indicates significant level between groups (p < 0.05)

 

Conclusion

 

The current study revealed theileria associated bovine anaemia (TABA) in terms of changes in haematology, biochemistry and electrolyte values. The results indicated an overall poor picture of circulating blood in animals suffering from TABA. These changes are important as they may indicate the extent of tissue damage and help in better understanding the pathogenesis of the disease. The data obtained in this study might form an indicative basis for subsequent studies under natural and experimental field conditions, and it should be used as a useful tool for diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of the therapy applied.

 

Conflict of Interest

 

Authors had no conflict of interest.

 

Acknowledgement

 

We would like to acknowledge the efforts of all the staff of the Department Veterinary Medicine and Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Orathanadu for their assistance and partaking in case and data collection of this present study.

 

Authors Contribution

 

Authors contributed equally and have read and approved the final manuscript.

 

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