Theileriosis is an arthropod transmitted economically important haemoprotozoan disease of tropical and subtropical regions of the world which belongs to Apicomplexa group. Hemoprotozoan infections represent the major problem in cattle breeding due to severe economic losses which leads to lowered animal production and increase in both susceptibility to other secondary bacterial infections and mortalities. The recent estimate of 498.7 million US doller per annum has been calculated as the cost of tick transmitted bovine diseases’ in India (Kumar et al., 2018). However, Devendra (1995) reported the annual loss of 800 million US dollar due to tropical theileriosis in India.

Theileria spp. is an intracellular parasite that infects both wild and domestic bovidae family all over the world and some species also infect small ruminants. They are transmitted with Ixodid ticks and have complex life cycle in vertebrate as well as invertebrate hosts (OIE, 2014). Globally, the important species causing bovine theileriosis are T. annualata and T. parva.  Life cycle of Theileria spp. involves cyclical development in ticks to form sporozoites which are then injected into mammalian host, in which they develop into schizont in leucocyte and then piroplasm in erythtrocyte. T. annulata affects cattle and it is transmitted transstadially with the help of Ixodid ticks. Tropical theileriosis is characterized by high fever, generalized weakness, weight loss, reduced appetite, conjunctival petechiae, enlargement of superficial lymph nodes, anemia, lateral recumbency, diarrhea and dysentery (Constable et al., 2017).

Materials and Methods

The animals were selected from Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, COVAS, Parbhani and nearby villages from Parbhani District, Maharashtra, India. The study was carried out for six months from January-June 2019. Total 67 suspected cattle were examined in different age, sex and breed randomly belonging to different localities in Parbhani district. The screening was done based on the clinical signs like high body temperature, enlargement of lymph nodes, conjunctiva petechiae, tick infestation and haemoglobin level more than 6 g/dl. Total 12 positive cases for theileriosis (n=6) in both the groups confirmed by usning blood smear examination (Fig. 1) and lymph node biopsy method (Fig. 2) which were examined for clinical and biochemical studies.

Collection of Samples

The serum samples were collected from theileriosis affected cattle for biochemical analysis. For biochemical analysis, blood from jugular vein of animal was collected in plain vaccuatainers with clot activator at room temperature and allowed to clot. After 1 to 2 hours, the tubes were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 20 minutes. Clear serum samples were carefully drawn and transferred to clean, dry sterilized serum collecting tubes. These tubes were kept at -20^oC. Blood samples from jugular vein were collected at day 0^th, day 7^th and day 21^st for biochemical investigation. Biochemical investigation was done with the help of Chem-7 automated biochemical analyzer.

Treatment

Twelve clinically positive cases of theileriosis were distributed in two equal groups (n=6). Group I was treated with inj. buparvaquone @ 2.5 mg/kg body weight once and Group II was treated with inj. arteether @ 5 mg/kg body weight intramuscularly for three consecutive days.

Statistical Analysis

The statistical analysis of the data was subjected Two Factor Factorial Experiment using WASP (Web Agri Stats Package) version 2.0 by ICAR. The values were represented as Mean ± Standard Error.

Results and Discussion

In current study, total 67 cattle suspected for theileriosis were screened on the basis of clinical signs like conjunctival petechiae, enlarged lymph nodes, presence of ticks on body and pyrexia.  conjunctival petechiae (77.61 %), enlarged lymph nodes (53.73 %), presence of ticks on body (92.53 %) and high body temperature (91.04 %) were the major clinical signs noted at the time of screening are depicted in Table 1.

Table 1: Clinical markers during screening of cattle for theileriosis

Clinical Markers of Theileriosis

Out of the total 67 suspected animals 15 were confirmed for theileriosis on the basis of blood smear examination. The signs noticed in 15 theileriosis confirmed cases are as given below. The signs found in theileriosis affected cattle were as conjunctival petechiae 100.00 %, enlargement of lymph node 80.00 %, presence of ticks infestation revealed 93.33 %, high temperature 100.00 %, respiratory distress found to be 73.33 %, nasal discharge 33.33 %, diarrhoea 46.66 % and reduced appetite was seen in 60.00 % cases.The present findings were in accordance with Al- Emarah et al. (2012) and Saravanan et al., (2017).The clinical markers of theielriosis are depicted in Table 2. 

Table 2: Clinical markers of theileriosis affected cattle

Biochemical Parameters

In present study, the theileriosis affected cattle were examined for biochemical alterations. Total protein and albumin level in treatment group I treated with buparvaquone and group II arteether showed non-significant, but apparent improvement on day 7 post treatment and significant improvement on day 21^st post treatment as compared to ‘0’day before treatment. The decline in total protein and albumin might be due the harmful effect of toxic metabolites of Theileria spp. and due to liver failure or it may be attributed to extra -vascular proteinaceous fluid in body cavities due to infected lymph nodes resulting in edema (Khan et al., 2011).

Treatment group I showed non-significant improvement in mean globulin on day 7 and day 21 after treatment as compared to ‘0’day before treatment. In group II, non-significant improvement was observed on 7^th day and significant improvement on 21^st day post treatment was observed as compared to ‘0’ day before treatment. Increase in globulin may reflect the body immune response to parasites (Singh et al., 2017 and Hamed et al., 2016). The treatment group I showed non-significant difference in BUN level. In group II, non-significant, but apparent change in BUN was observed on day 7^th and significant improvement was observed on 21^st post treatment as compared to ‘0’ day before treatment. The BUN level increased on 7^th and 21^st day post treatment that indicated adverse effect of Inj. Buparvaquone on the kidney. However, in group II, treated with Inj. Arteether, BUN values decreased non significantly on day 7^th after treatment and showed significant increase on 21^st day post treatments compared to ‘0’ day before treatment. It indicates better efficacy of Inj. Arteether and protective effect on kidneys. The change in BUN level was probably due to harmful effect of toxic metabolites of theileriosis on liver cells leads to impairment and alterations of liver and kidney enzymes (Hamed et al., 2016). Serum creatinine level revealed apparent change in creatinine level on day 7^th and significant difference was observed on 21^st day post treatment in group I indicating adverse effect of buparvaquone on kidneys. However, in treatment group II treated with Inj. arteether showed non-significant but apparent decrease in creatinine level on day 7^th and day 21^st post treatment. Increase in creatinine probably due to liver and kidney damage caused due to theileriosis (Somu et al., 2017). Result indicated good response to treatment with Inj. Arteether and hepatoprotective activity. Treatment group I, treated with buparvaquone and group II with Arteether showed significant decrease in AST and ALT level after 7^th and 21^st day post treatment as compared to ‘0’ day before treatment in theileriosis affected cattle. The liver enzymes like AST and ALT showed significant increase which may be due to hepatic tissue damage that included coagulative necrosis, distortion of hepatic cord with heavy infiltration of lymphocytes in the peripheral areas indicating severe damage to hepatobiliary system due to hepatobiliary system due to hypoxia due to anemia and jaundice (Modi et al., 2015). Total bilirubin level in treatment group I and group II showed non-significant decrease on 7^th day and significant improvement was observed on 21^st day post treatment as compared to ‘0’ day before treatment. Increase in bilirubin concentration may be related to hepatic dysfunction and hemolytic anaemia (Al-Emarah et al., 2012). The biochemical study showed that Arteether has at par efficacy as compared to buparvaquone in theileriosis affected cattle. The analysis of variance revealed non-significant variation in pooled mean of total protein, albumin, globulin, AST, ALT and total bilirubin in between treatment groups (I and II). However, significant variation was observed in BUN and creatinine in both groups (I and II).

Pooled mean of periods in total protein, BUN, AST, ALT and total bilirubin showed significant improvement on day 7^th and day 21^st post treatment as compared to ‘0’day before treatment and albumin and globulin showed non-significant improvement on 7^th day and significant improvement on 21^st day post treatment as compared to ‘0’ day before treatment. However, pooled mean of creatinine level between periods showed non-significant variation on day 7^th and 21^st post treatment as compared to ‘0’ day before treatment. Biochemical parameters of theileriosis affected cattle in arteether and buparvaquone treated groups at different interval is depicted in Table 3.

Table 3: Biochemical parameters of theileriosis affected cattle in arteether and buparvaquone treated groups at different interval

Conclusion

The clinical markers such as high body temperature, enlarged lymph nodes, conjunctival petichaie and ticks on body of animals are highly associated with affection of theileriosis in dairy cattle. Biochemical parameters revealed that Inj Arteether has at par efficacy with respect to total serum protein, albumin, globulin, AST, ALT and total bilirubin as compared to buparvaquone. Whereas, buparvaquone was found to possess adverse effect on BUN and creatinine levels as compared to arteether.

References

1. Al-Emarah, G.Y.A.2012. Clinical, haematological and biochemical Study to cattle naturally infected with Theileria annulata in North of Basrah Province. Al-Qadisiya Veterinary Medicine Sci.11(1): 54-62.
2. Constable PD, Hinchcliff KW, Done SH and Grunberg W. 2017. Veterinary medicine: A textbook of the diseases of cattle, horses, sheep, pigs and goats. Elsevier, Philadelphia. 11^th : 1522-1532.
3. Devendra C. 1995. In Global agenda for livestock research, EDS, ILRI, Nairobi.: 41-48.
4. Hamed HA, Salem SM and Ibrahim HN. 2016. Haemato-biochemical alterations in cattle suffering from anaemia and their effect on quality on some meat. J. Chem. Environ. Health. 2(2). :232-249.
5. Khan IA, Khan A, Hussain A, Riaz A and Aziz A. 2011. Hemato-biochemical alterations in cross bred cattle affected with bovine theileriosis in semi-arid zone. Pak Vet J. 31(2): 137-140.
6. Kumar S, Mohmad A, Parthasarathi BC, Fular A, Gupta S and Singh D. 2018. Epidemiological Status of Bovine Theileriosis in Uttar Pradesh state of India. Medical Journal of Clinical Trials & Case Studies. 2(1) :1-7.
7. Modi DV, Chirag M, Bhadesiya and Mandali GC. 2015. Haematobiochemical changes in cross bred cattle infected with Theileria aanulata in Banaskantha district of Gujarat. Int. J. Sci. Res. 5(1). :2250- 3153.
8. OIE, 2014. Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals. 7^th , Vol. 1-2. Office International Des Epizooties, Paris.
9. Saravanan M, Ranjithkumar M, Babu N, Prasanth, Yogeshpriya S, Jayalakshmi K and Kannan K. 2017. Clinical, hematological changes and therapeutic efficacy of Buparvaquone with oxytetracycline against the natural infection of Theileria annulata in cattle. J. Liv. Res. 7 (10). :2277-1964.
10. Singh J, Acharya AP, Panda SK, Patra BK and Behera K. 2017. Theilerial infection in young bovine calves in Odisha, India. Entomol. Zool. Stud. 5(5). :1201-1204.
11. Somu Y, Mani S,Muthusamy R, Mani S, Thangamani A, Konappan J, Muthusamy V, Subbaih KK and Palanisamy S. 2017. Haemato- biochemical and electrolyte alterations in naturally occurring Theileria associated bovine anaemia (taba). Anim. Health Prod. 5(2). :64-67.