Congenital babesiosis

Abstract

Bovine babesiosis or rewater is a tick-borne disease caused by parasites of the genus Babesia which occur in the erythrocytes of infected cattle. There are four Babesia species that are known to occur in cattle in Southern Africa. These are Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia occultans and an unnamed species. In animals which have died from acute B. bovis infections there is severe congestion of most organs with serosal petechiae and ecchymoses occuring in many organs. Note paticularly in this slide the icterus, splenomegaly, degenerated liver and reddened kidneys as a result of haemoglobin.