Prevalence, haematological alterations and chemotherapy of bovine anaplasmosis in Sahiwal and crossbred cattle of district Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

In the current study, prevalence related associated risk factors and hematological changes (due to bovine anaplasmosis) were studied in Sahiwal cattle and crossbred cattle of the district Faisalabad of Punjab province, Pakistan. Therapeutic efficiency of Oxytetracycline-Imidocarb dipropionate combination was compared with Enrofloxacin-Imidocarb dipropionate against Anaplasma marginale (A. marginale). For this study, the blood samples of three hundred and sixty nine cattle were collected. Giemsa stain of blood smears showed 10.84% infection of cattle with Anaplasma. A. marginale positive cases were further confirmed through PCR. Among risk factors, age (χ2=19.35, P value=0.001), breed (χ2=29.08, P value=0.000), frequency of acaricidal treatment (χ2=18.56, P value=0.001), number of cleaning times (χ2=16.11, P value=0.002), feeding system (χ2=23.41, P value=0.001), floor pattern (χ2=17.98, P value=0.000) and hygienic measures (χ2=25.79, P value=0.001) significantly influenced the incidence of disease in the cattle of district Faisalabad. A. marginale induced statistically significant reduction was observed in RBC count, Hb, MCV, PCV and MCHC in infected cattle compared to healthy animals (P<0.05). Anaplasmosis infected animals more effectively treated with combination of Oxytetracycline (22mg/kg, I/V, once/day for 5 days) and Imidocarb dipropionate (5mg/kg, I/M, twice 7 days apart) compared to Enrofloxacin (12.5 mg/ kg, I/V, once/day for 5 days) and Imidocarb dipropionate (5mg/kg, I/M, twice 7 days apart) combination.