Spatiotemporal cluster and incidence analysis of cattle mortality caused by bovine babesiosis in Styria, Austria, between 1998 and 2016

Karoline Stefanie Schlögl,Jörg Anton Hiesel,Ian Kopacka,John Kastelic,Armin Deutz,Peter Wagner,Robert Wolf

doi:10.1007/s00436-020-06604-8

Abstract

Reported fatal cases of bovine babesiosis (syn.: piroplasmosis, red water fever) in cattle were analyzed to identify spatial and temporal clusters of their incidence in the Austrian province of Styria. Data were collected within a governmental babesiosis compensation program. Diagnosis was performed using a standardized necropsy protocol. Between 1998 and 2016, a total of 1257 cases of fatal babesiosis were registered and compensated. Within the study interval, annual numbers of fatal babesiosis differed significantly among municipalities. Spatiotemporal analysis covering the entire study period revealed one high-risk cluster in the western and central northern region of Styria and a low-risk cluster in the southeastern part of Styria. Annual temporal analysis demonstrated that cases accumulated in June. Annual spatial analysis revealed consistently that cases mainly occurred in the western and central northern regions, whereas they occurred rarely in the southeastern regions. These results should increase awareness and facilitate protective actions against ticks during certain time periods and geographic areas.

Highlights

Babesiosis caused by the hematotropic parasites Babesia divergens is a tick-transmitted, zoonotic disease (Schnittger et al 2012)
Data were collected in the province of Styria, Austria, where fatal babesiosis is reported to the local official veterinarian to be considered for compensation
In 2011, 81 cattle (25.2 cattle per 10,000 cattle at risk) died of babesiosis, and a high-risk cluster was identified between 31 May and 9 July

Summary

Introduction

Babesiosis caused by the hematotropic parasites Babesia divergens (syn.: piroplasmosis, red water fever) is a tick-transmitted, zoonotic disease (Schnittger et al 2012). In Europe, cattle are mainly infected with Babesia divergens (M'Fadyean and Stockman 1911), transmitted by ixodid ticks (Edelhofer et al 2004; Krampitz et al 1986). Babesia divergens affects cattle but can affect immunosuppressed, especially splenectomized, humans (Schuster 2002; Zintl et al 2003). Subclinical, acute, and chronic courses of bovine babesiosis have been described (Gray and Murphy 1985). After an incubation period of a few days after the tick bite, acute cases are characterized by high fever (up to 42 °C), red urine, and, in longer-surviving animals, ischemic changes in the skeletal and heart muscle (Radostits et al 2000). Differential diagnoses include anaplasmosis, eperythrozoonosis, leptospirosis, postparturient and bacillary hemoglobinuria (Williams and Parasitol Res (2020) 119:1117–1123

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