Clinical, hematological, and biochemical studies of Tropical Theileriosis in native calves in Mosul city

Abstract

The study was conducted on 48 native male calves aged between 6-18 months; 33 calves were naturally infected with Theileria annulata and 15 calves were clinically normal which served as a control. Results indicated that the clinically infected calves showed clinical signs including fever, anorexia, loss of appetite, respiratory manifestation, enlarged lymph nodes, ocular and nasal discharges, loss of weight, lime, paleness and icterus of the mucous membranes, diarrhea and skin lesions. Hematological studies revealed highly significant decreases (P≤0.01) in red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume and platelets, whereas the total leukocyte count showed highly significant (P≤0.01) leukocytosis with lymphocytosis. No significant difference was observed in MCV, MCH and MCHC between infected and healthy indigenous calves which indicated normocytic-normochromic anemia, Blood smear showed morphological alterations (Poikilocytosis) with basophilic stippling in the erythrocytes. Biochemical findings revealed that calves infected with theileriosis showed significant decreased (P≤ 0.05) in serum levels of total proteins and glucose, while the serum levels of total bilirubin was significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05)