Bovine Babesiosis: A potential threat to cattle health

Introduction Babesia genus was named after pathologist Victor Babes who discovered this organism first in red blood cells of cattle in 1888 in Romania, later Smith and Kilborne in 1893 demonstrate that the organism was transmitted by Boophilus annulatus to cattle. Bovine babesiosis is a tick-transmitted disease affecting cattle and buffalo, caused by species of the genus Babesia, an obligate intracellular protozoan that invades and destroys red blood cells, leading to considerable mortality and morbidity in cattle. The disease is globally distributed and can occasionally infect humans. Its acute form is marked by fever, intravascular hemolysis resulting in progressive anemia, jaundice, hemoglobinuria, and splenomegaly, while the chronic form leads to anemia and variable weight loss. As one of the most widespread parasites globally, babesiosis is the second most common blood borne parasitic disease after trypanosomiasis. The economic impact on the cattle industry is substantial, with losses from mortality, reduced milk and meat production, and the costs associated with tick control. Synonyms for the disease include Texas fever, Redwater disease, Piroplasmosis, and Tick fever.