Surtos de babesiose cerebral em bovinos leiteiros no nordeste brasileiro

Abstract

This paper reports the epidemiological, clinical, laboratorial and necropsy findings of three cerebral babesiosis outbreaks in dairy cattle from northeast Brazil. These outbreaks affected a total of nine Holstein x Gir crossbred and Girolando cattle. Clinical signs included neurological disturbances, pale mucous membranes with variable degrees of icterus, hemoglobinuria, anorexia, fever, apathy, tachycardia, tachypnea, and reduction in milk yield. Five cases of marked regenerative anemia with Babesia bovis parasitized erythrocytes were identified by hematology analysis. Three necropsy findings revealed pale mucous membranes, splenomegaly, enlarged and yellowish liver, congested and edematous gall bladder containing viscous granular bile, red urine, and dark red kidneys. Gray matter of telencephalic and cerebellar cortices consistently had a typically pink-cherry discoloration. Imprint from the kidney reveals B. bovis in red cells. The disease can have an important economical impact in the northeast region due to productivity loss, mortality rate and costs of treatments.