Reactions and haematology in imported Jersey cattle premunized in Ceylon

Comparison between Sri Lankan and Australian strains of Babesia bovis in the vaccination of imported cattle in Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan strain of Babesia bovis (designated A strain) was isolated from larval ticks and prepared for use as vaccine by syringe-passage in 20 splenectomised calves followed by irradiation. The A strain and a vaccine strain of Babesia bovis (designated K strain) brought in frozen form from Australia were used to vaccinate 37 susceptible bulls imported from southern Australia. Rectal temperatures, packed cell volumes, parasitaemias and overt clinical signs were monitored for three weeks following vaccination. The results indicated that the A strain was slightly more virulent than the K strain but suitable for the vaccination of well-supervised cattle.

The pathogenesis of Babesia motasi (Wales) infection in sheep

Studies on the pathogenesis of Babesia motasi (Wales) infection following blood transfusion of infected blood to normal or splenectomised recipients showed that the intact animal is refractory to infection but that infection in splenectomised animals caused weight loss, fever, anorexia, lassitude and a macrocytic hypochromic anaemia which coincided with the peak of parasitaemia. There was an initial leucocytosis, largely due to a neutrophilia. The prepatent period following blood transfusion was 2-3 days. Unconjugated and conjugated (direct) bilirubin levels increased from pre-infection levels to peaks of 1.43 and 0.70 mg/100 ml of blood, respectively. Serum glutamic pyruvic acid transaminases (SGPT) increased slightly but serum glutamic-oxaloacetic acid transaminases (SGOT) and blood sugar (glucose) levels did not show significant changes after infection. Total serum protein levels increased temporarily and then returned to normal. Blood urea nitrogen levels increased, with biphasic peaks (76.32 and 86.29 mg/100 ml) on Days 2 and 8 post-patency. Clinical infections even in splenectomised sheep, were mild and of short duration, although recovered sheep remained carriers.