Bovine Theileriosis: Comprehensive Insights into Etiology, Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Immunoprophylaxis

Dr. Kirti Dadaram Fanase1, Dr. Pranav Sunil Jadhav2 Dr. Rajwardhan Chandrakant Nimbalkar3*1MVSc Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, Sardarkrushinagar.2MVSc Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Instituten Bareilly3MVSc, Poultry Science, ICAR- Central Avian Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly,doi.org/10.5281/IndianVetMagazine.23476358

AbstractBovine theileriosis, caused by tick-borne apicomplexan protozoans of the genus Theileria, represents one of the most economically devastating livestock diseases across tropical and subtropical regions globally. Among the species impacting cattle, Theileria parva (causing East Coast fever) and Theileria annulata (causing tropical theileriosis) are the most pathogenic, while species like Theileria orientalis (notably the Ikeda genotype) impose emerging threats to livestock production systems worldwide. This critical popular article provides a comprehensive overview of bovine theileriosis, covering etiology, vector-host transmission dynamic, species diversity, and multi-factorial disease susceptibility based on age, gender, breed, geography, and environmental drivers. Pathophysiological changes including dramatic alterations in hematological profiles (severe pan-leukopenia, normocytic normochromic to hypochromic anemia, thrombocytopenia) and serum biochemical markers (hyperbilirubinemia, elevated AST/ALT, hypoalbuminemia, elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine) are systematically reviewed. Furthermore, conventional diagnostics (blood/lymph smear microscopy) are evaluated alongside advanced serological (ELISA, IFAT) and molecular assays (nested PCR, real-time PCR, multiplex PCR). Therapeutic strategies using specific anti-theilerial molecules (buparvaquone, parvaquone, oxytetracycline) coupled with supportive care, and vaccination strategies including live attenuated tissue culture vaccines and the infection-and-treatment method (ITM), are critically analyzed. This article synthesizes contemporary research published in high-impact veterinary journals (NAAS rating > 6.0) to serve as a practical, authoritative guide for field clinicians, disease control authorities, and researchers.