Bovine babesiosis: Clinical assessment and transfusion therapy

The clinical and haematological findings in 163 cases of bovine babesiosis were examined. Mean values for body temperature, respiratory rate, heart ra te and skin tent time were elevated. Pink mucous membranes were recorded in over half of the cases (53 per cent), pale mucous membranes in 22 per cent , congested mucous membranes in 15 per cent and jaundiced mucous membranes in 9.6 per cent of cases. Although a wide range of packed cell volume (PCV) values were recorded, the mean PCV was Lower than the reference range. Muc ous membrane colour was not a reliable indicator of PCV status, as 45 per c ent of animals with pink mucous membranes and 59 per cent of animals with c ongested mucous membranes were anaemic (PCV I 0.24L/L). Animals with pipestem diarrhoea had significantly higher body temperatures than those that presented with either constipation or normal faeces, while animals with constipation had significantly Lower body temperatures than th ose that presented with normal faeces. Blood transfusions were administered in 42 (25.7 per cent) cases. Had a PCV < 0.15L/L been used as the threshol d for a decision to transfuse, the clinical signs most likely to indicate t he need for a blood transfusion were pale or jaundiced mucous membranes, bo dy temperature < 100 degreesF, and constipation.