Oxidative Stress, Hemogram, Hepatorenal Function Evaluation and Molecular Diagnosis of Babesiosis in Crossbred Cows Naturally Infected with B. bigemina

This study was conducted to describe the clinical picture, hemato-biochemical changes, and lipid peroxidation/antioxidant status in cows affected with clinical babesiosis for understanding disease pathogenesis, perfect diagnosis, and evaluation of severity and prognosis of the disease. Thirty-eight crossbred cows were involved in this study. Twenty-six diseased crossbred cows showed typical signs of babesiosis and another 12 apparently healthy cows as control were enrolled in the current work. The selected animals were subjected to thorough clinical examination. Giemsa stained blood films were prepared from all cows and microscopically examined for parasitic piroplasm. Molecular demonstration of Babesia bigemina using PCR was performed. Blood samples from examined animals were collected and the hematologic, biochemical, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant alterations were estimated. High fever, inappetence, depression, congested mucous membranes and often dark red urine were the most consistent findings in acute cases. Labored breathing, pale to icteric mucous membranes and general weakness were recorded in prolonged cases. Hematological findings showed significant reductions in RBCs, Hb, hematocrit and neutrophils accompanied with significant elevations in lymphocytes and monocytes in affected animals. Significant reductions in albumin and A/G ratio along with significant increase in globulin, bilirubin, urea, creatinine, iron and copper levels were the most consistent biochemical changes observed in babesiosis affected cows.Excessive lipid peroxidation along with decreased total antioxidant status was observed in cows with babesiosis. The obtained findings indicated that babesiosis is a serious disease has a very characteristic clinical picture in which high fever and hemoglobinuria are the main aspects. Hematologic and biochemical findings indicated that the babesiosis affected cows suffered poor blood picture, severe anemia, liver and kidney dysfunction and significant oxidative stress which are implicated in the severity, pathogenesis and prognosis of bovine babesiosis.