Tick Fever in Cattle: Theileriosis, Babesiosis and Anaplasmosis

Tick fever in cattle and buffalo is caused by three tick-borne germs: Theileria, Babesia and Anaplasma. They live in the blood and cause fever, anaemia and a fall in milk. A stained blood smear, a blood count and antibody or RT-PCR tests help a vet find which germ is present and how badly the animal is affected.

What are the three diseases?

All three are spread by the bite of infected ticks, and ticks are most active in warm, damp weather.

• Theileriosis is caused by Theileria annulata. It often causes high fever, swollen glands near the shoulder and in front of the thigh, anaemia and sometimes yellow gums. Crossbred and exotic cattle are more at risk than local breeds.
• Babesiosis, often called redwater, is caused by Babesia. The germ destroys red blood cells, so the urine may turn dark red or brown, and the animal becomes anaemic.
• Anaplasmosis is caused by Anaplasma. It also causes fever, anaemia and weakness, but usually without red urine.

An animal can have more than one at the same time, which is one reason for testing.

What signs should owners look for?

Common signs are a high fever, poor appetite, dullness, a sudden fall in milk, pale or yellow gums and weakness. Some animals have swollen glands or dark urine. Pregnant animals may abort. These signs also come from other illnesses, so a vet's examination matters, and a sick animal should be seen without delay.

Which tests help?

Vets usually use more than one, because each shows something different.

• The Tick Fever Panel for Cattle & Buffalo (Theileriosis, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis) looks for the parasites on a stained blood smear and can include a smear from a swollen gland. It can find an animal that is sick right now.
• The Blood Protozoa (Blood Parasite Smear) is the basic smear for parasites in the blood.
• The Complete Blood Count (CBC) shows how far the red cells, white cells and platelets have changed, which tells the vet how serious the anaemia is.
• The Theileria annulata Antibody ELISA looks for antibodies, which show that the animal has met the germ, even if parasites are now few.

A smear can miss a light infection, and antibodies cannot tell whether the infection is current, so a registered veterinarian reads the tests together with the signs. RT-PCR (real-time PCR) can find smaller amounts of the germ, and the Tick Fever RT-PCR Pack groups a smear panel, a blood count and an RT-PCR tick panel. The lab confirms the exact list when you book.

Who should be tested?

The sick animal first. In herds with several cases, vets often test a few more animals that look well, because carriers can look healthy and pass the germs on through ticks. New animals brought in from areas with fewer ticks are often more at risk than local ones.

How should the sample be taken?

The vet draws blood into an EDTA tube, and may make smears on slides. Smears should be dried in the air and kept away from dust and flies, and slides must be labelled with the animal's number. Keep the tube cool and send it quickly.

What can owners do between visits?

Check the ears, tail and under the belly for ticks, and keep sheds and walls in good repair. Ask your vet about tick control that suits your animals. The lab gives no advice on products or treatment. Keep a note of the dates of fever, which animals were affected and what was found on the ticks and the skin, because this helps your vet decide whether to test more animals. Do not use a product made for one species on another, and do not give any medicine to a sick animal before the vet has seen it. In a herd with repeated cases, the vet may also look at whether ticks are building up in sheds, grazing land or on newly bought animals.

Read next

Udder health also depends on the season, and Mastitis in Cows and Buffaloes: CMT and Somatic Cell Count explains that testing. To see how a package bundles blood checks in practice, read Horse Health Check Panel: What Is Inside and Why.

Testing in Bhopal

Your vet usually takes the blood, and the lab at C-200, C Sector, Shahpura, Bhopal accepts it. Collection is free anywhere in Bhopal, and other districts can use courier, bus parcel or their vet. Call or WhatsApp +91 88175 01118; the lab confirms the method, sample needs and reporting time when you book.