Bovine borreliosis in Botswana.
Clinical Borrelia theileri infection was reported for the first time in cattle from Botswana concurrent with Babesia bovis and Theileria mutans infections. Two animals, an ox and a cow of the Tswana breed demonstrated clinical signs of fever, haemoglobinuria, inappetance, diarrhoea, pallor of mucous membranes, enlarged superficial lymph nodes and rough hair coats. Examination of the blood smears from the affected animals revealed numerous B. theileri, and very few B. bovis and T. mutans organisms. Oxytetracycline was administered parenterally to all the animals in the herd. The ox, being extremely weak and recumbent for the previous 4-5 days, succumbed to death the day after the examination. The clearance of spirochaetes from the blood circulation and recovery of the cow three days after treatment with oxytetracycline suggest an involvement of B. theileri in producing clinical disease.
Sharma
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National Veterinary Laboratory, Gaborone, Botswana.
Amanfu
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Losho
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D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001899:Borrelia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D001902:Botswana; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D004199:Disease Vectors; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010118:Oxytetracycline / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010118:Oxytetracycline