EFFECT OF BABESIA BIGEMINA AND THEILERIA ANNULATA ON WEIGHT GAIN, MILK YIELD AND ESTROUS CYCLE IN EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED BOS TAURUS AND BUBALUS BUBALIS

Abstract

In Pakistan, buffaloes and cattle are the main source for the milk and meat production ultimately having a great economic impact on the socio-economic living of the people. It is believed that blood protozoan parasitic diseases like Babesiosis and Theileriosis caused by tick-borne blood parasite greatly reduce the productivity of the animals. Hence, the study was designed to assess
the effect of Babesia bigemina and Theileria annulata infection on the body weight, estrous cycle and milk production in cattle and buffaloes. Two hundred animals comprising of Bubalus bubalis and Bos taurus (Holstein Friesian, Jersy and Sahiwal) adults and calves were selected for this study. A significant decrease was observed in weight of the affected animals. Delayed maturity was also seen in calves affected with Theileriosis as compared with the control group of calves as the animals gained weight at slower rate after recovery from the disease. Production of milk in control group of Bos taurus and Bubalis bubalis was 14.6 ± 0.23Kg, 13.3 ± 0.2Kg, 11.5 ± 0.4Kg and 12.0 ± 0.31Kg whereas milk production in Babesia affected groups declined to 4.7 ± 0.02Kg, 6.1 ± 0.5Kg, 4.3 ± 0.3Kg and 4.3 ± 0.24Kg respectively. Milk production in control groups of animals of Bos was 13.3 ± 0.2Kg, 14.6 ±
0.23Kg and 11.5±0.4Kg whereas milk yield in Theileriosis affected groups decreased to 5.6 ± 0.37Kg, 4.9 ± 0.41Kg and 4.7 ± 0.43Kg respectively. Animals of B. bubalis and Bos. taurus species infected experimentally with Babesia bigemina and Theleria annulata showed irregular and prolonged estrous cycle whereas healthy animals showed normal estrous cycle. The duration of estrous cycle observed in Babesiosis affected animals was 76.0±4.4 days, 65.0±3.29 days, 58±5.2days and 47.0 ± 4.2 days. The duration of estrous cycle in Theileriosis affected Bos species was 63.0 ± 8.57, 68.0 ± 10.0 and 31.0 ± 5.7 days respectively.