Abstract
BackgroundThe prevalence of bovine babesiosis caused by Babesia divergens has been declining during the past decades in northeastern Hungary, and no cases have been observed since 2008. Infections of cattle with B. major and Theileria buffeli were hitherto reported in southern and western Europe. In other parts of the globe, there is evidence of emergence and a growing clinical importance of T. buffeli and closely related genotypes of the T. orientalis complex.FindingsIn a herd of 88 beef cattle kept in northeastern Hungary, bovine piroplasmosis was diagnosed in nine animals through the examination of blood smears or by molecular methods. B. major was identified in five animals, two of which died. In addition, four cattle harboured T. buffeli, and one of these animals was anaemic. Despite their presence, a contributory role of Anaplasma marginale and A. phagocytophilum could not be established in the disease cases.ConclusionsIn this study B. major and bovine theileriosis is reported for the first time in central-eastern Europe, where clinical cases were associated with a mild winter.
Highlights
The prevalence of bovine babesiosis caused by Babesia divergens has been declining during the past decades in northeastern Hungary, and no cases have been observed since 2008
In this study B. major and bovine theileriosis is reported for the first time in central-eastern Europe, where clinical cases were associated with a mild winter
Concerning these animals (No 4–9: Table 1), haematocrit values were within the normal range in the case of four cattle co-infected with A. marginale/A. ovis (No 5, 7–9) but were slightly lower in animal No 4 harboring only B. major
Summary
The first cattle, which had been grazing the same pastures in northeastern Hungary (Nógrád county, Mátranovák, geographical coordinates: 48° 2' 12.4" N, 19° 58' 35.1" E) in 2012–2013, exhibited clinical signs of piroplasmosis in November, 2013. A herd of 88 Charolais beef cattle were transferred from southeastern to northeastern Hungary, to the above locality. In the latter herd, clinical signs of piroplasmosis were noted in two animals within 1.5 months of their arrival, in December, 2013. After the appearance of clinical signs, EDTA blood samples were collected from the coccygeal vein of the three severely affected animals, and the presence of piroplasms was evaluated in Giemsa-stained blood smears. EDTA blood samples were collected from all 85 cattle in the herd in January, 2014. Haematological analysis was performed in blood samples in which piroplasms were identified by molecular methods
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