Bovine babesiosis
Bovine babesiosis is a cattle disease caused by babesia. Bayesian is an Apicomplexan parasite that infects the red blood cells. It was originally discovered by the Romanian Bacteriologist Victor Babes. There are two types of parasites that cause bovine babesiosis: Bayesian big mina and Bayesian bovis. The babesia is transmitted by the sting of ticks which are the principal vector of Bovine babesiosis [3]. At least 1.3 billion of bovies on the world are at risk of being infected due to its frequent exposure to Bayesian parasites. The favorable climatic conditions of the Sub-Saharan Africa allow the survival and reproduction of ticks where the bovines have a contact with these vectors. Thus the disease in endemic in these regions [1]. The incubation period for Bayesian big mina is 12-18 days after a sting by an infectious tick. Bayesian bovis does not persist in an infective form in the ticks beyond larval stage hence its incubation period between is 6-12 days. The symptoms of Bovine babesiosis include: in appetence, depression, increased respiratory rate, body weakness and reluctance to move.
Acute clinical babesiosis in bovines has a grave prognosis and may be fatal without treatment. Bovine babesiosis has a mortality rate of 20-50 percent and can occur in acute, sub-acute or chronic forms. Bovine babesiosis is treated using diminazene actuate, imidocarb di-propionate. These are the most commonly used drugs. Other drugs include epoxomicin, gossypol and atovaquone. Mild cases of Bovine babesiosis may recover without treatment. Treatment is only successful if diagnosed and it may fail if the animal has been weakened by anemia. Infected animals develop temporary immunity against re-infection with the same species and cross-infection with the other species. Transimission of Bovine babesiosis is possible through vertical transmission(infected mother to child ).Bovine babesiosis can be transmitted directly between animals in blood for instance during transfusions [5].
Bovine that die from Bovine babesiosis should be disposed properly disposed as access to poorly disposed carcass can allow for significant disease spread through scavengers and vermin. The carcass should be buried deep in the ground to ensure that scavengers do not reach the carcass. Another way is to burn/incinerate the carcass [10]. However, there are also exist bovines that are carriers. Despite being stung by an infectious tick; these bovines will never show symptoms of Bovine babesiosis. However, they host the parasite in them. A non-infected tick that stings these carrier bovines becomes infectious and can transmit bovine babesiosis to any other susceptible bovine it bites. Therefore, we cannot exclude the fact some carriers would come into contact with susceptible bovines causing further transmissions [6][7]. Factors such as the breed, the age, the sex and the physiological state of an animal as well as the general immunity of a herd resulting from a previous contact with a disease can make an animal become a carrier.