Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
S Sivajothi and B Sudhakara Reddy

Abstract:
Different studies on clinical theileriosis have been reported in cattle with scarce reports on buffaloes in India. Hence, the present study was designed to study the clinico-haematological and electrocardiography changes in buffaloes with theileriosis. Among the screened buffaloes, 16 adult buffaloes were identified as suffering with clinical theileriosis based on the microscopic examination of blood smears. Depressed demeanour, pyrexia, inappetence, cachexia, dyspnea, absence of rumination, lacrimation, tachycardia, tachypnea, scleral congestion, enlarged prescapular lymph nodes and sunken eyeballs were the most repeatedly noticed clinical signs in buffaloes diagnosed with theileriosis. The haemato-biochemical analysis showed marked anemia, leukocytosis, lymphocytopenia, and increased levels of AST, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and potassium along with reduced levels of albumin, total serum protein, and calcium. Electrocardiographic analysis revealed sinus tachycardia, ventricular extrasystole, atrial fibrillation, atrial premature complex, premature ventricular complex, ventricular tachycardia, and first-degree atrioventricular block. Therapy was carried out using oxytetracycline and buparvaquone along with supportive medications. Therapeutic response was favorable in early intervention of the disease but poor in the chronicity of the disease. The results of the study help guide the therapeutic approaches and assess the involvement of other organs in buffaloes with chronic theileriosis. Further studies are required to investigate the factors involved in the unfavorable therapeutic response to chronic theileriosis in buffaloes.