Prevalence and Therapeutic Management of Theileriosis in Bovine

Abstract

Bovine Theileriosis, a tick-borne haemoprotozoan infection caused by Theileria spp. parasite, presents a significant threat to the Indian dairy industry. The prevalence of Bovine Theileriosis in Western Uttar Pradesh has raised concerns, prompting the need for a comprehensive study to assess the situation. The present study was conducted during 2023-24, covering 10 districts of Western Uttar Pradesh and involving 1055 bovine samples. The overall prevalence of Bovine Theileriosis was determined to be 21.99%, which is considered moderate compared to other states in India. Among the risk factors analyzed, species emerged as the most influential factor affecting the disease's prevalence in the region, followed by location, season, and age of the bovine. Pregnancy status and gender did not exhibit a significant impact. The detection of the parasite involved the examination of Giemsa-stained thin smears from suspected animals, as well as utilizing the gold standard PCR detection method to identify the 1529 bp sequence of the 18S-rRNA gene of the parasite. Thin smear examination demonstrated 60% efficacy compared to PCR, which is deemed acceptable. The predominant species identified in this region was Theileria annulata, displaying a close evolutionary relationship with isolates from China, Egypt, and Haryana state of India. A clinical trial was conducted on 24 crossbred cattle, comprising 18 infected animals and 6 healthy animals. The infected animals were treated with Oxytetracycline-LA, Buparvaquone, and herbal therapy. The trial results indicated that Buparvaquone exhibited 100% efficacy, followed by Oxytetracycline-LA with a range of 83.33% to 100%, and herbal therapy with a range of 33.33% to 66.66%. Buparvaquone and Oxytetracycline demonstrated superior results compared to herbal therapy. Further studies regarding alteration in dose, composition, method and duration of administration are required for better results.