↵​Haemato-biochemical and Therapeutic Studies on Ovine Babesiosis in Kashmir

Abstract

Background: The clinical study was designed to evaluate the haemato-biochemical changes in sheep affected with babesiosis and therapeutic regimes of various drugs used against babesiosis. Methods: A total of 24 clinically affected sheep with 6 animals in each group were selected for the haemato-biochemical and therapeutic study. The diagnosis was based on clinical manifestations, microscopic examination of blood smears and molecular confirmation of Babesia by PCR technique. For therapeutic study Group I, II, III and IV were treated with imidocarb dipropionate, imidocarb dipropionate+oxytetracycline, diminazene aceturate and diminazene aceturate+oxytetracycline, respectively. Result: The clinical signs recorded were high fever, pale mucous membranes, presence of ticks, inappetence, coffee-coloured urine and diarrhoea. The vectors identified were Haemaphysalis ticks. Hb, PCV, TEC, total protein, albumin, calcium, phosphorus and blood glucose were significantly (P less than 0.05) lower in the diseased group as compared to healthy animals while TLC, globulin and iron levels were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher compared to the healthy control group. The study revealed that the combination of imidocarb dipropionate and oxytetracycline was highly effective for ovine babesiosis.