Korean J Parasitol.  2008 Dec;46(4):223-227. 10.3347/kjp.2008.46.4.223.

Biochemical, Hematological, and Electrocardiographic Changes in Buffaloes Naturally Infected with Theileria annulata

• Hasanpour
• Moghaddam
• Nematollahi A

• KMID: 1720587
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2008.46.4.223

Abstract

Changes in selected blood and serum components and electrocardiography (ECG) were investigated in 20 adults (13 females and 7 males) of water buffaloes suffering from severe theileriosis. The age of all animals used in this study ranged 1.5-5 yr. Theileriosis was diagnosed by observation of parasites in the peripheral blood and the presence of schizonts in lymphocytes that were provided from swollen lymph nodes. Statistically significant decreases were observed in the means of RBC, WBC, and packed cell volume (PCV) in blood of infected animals. The means levels of sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium of infected animals were lower than healthy animals, but only the decrease of potassium was significant. The mean serum activities of aspartate transferase and alanine aminotransfrase were significantly higher than in uninfected animals. Three cases had atrial premature beat, 2 cases had sinus tachycardia, 2 had sinus arrhythmia, and 1 had first degree of atrioventricular block in ECG. The present study showed that T. annulata infection in cattle is associated with hematological and biochemical, and ECG changes.

Keyword

Theileria annulata; biochemical parameter; hematological parameter; buffalo; theileriosis

MeSH Terms

Animals
*Buffaloes
Cattle
Electrocardiography/*veterinary
Female
Male
Theileria annulata/*physiology
Theileriasis/blood/metabolism/*parasitology