A study on Theileria parva bovis carrier state

In two trials, Theileria parva bovis (which causes ‘January disease’ of cattle in Zimbabwe) produced a carrier state, over the 7–12 months after infection. Very severe clinical reactions were caused by infections from small numbers (29–43) of adult Rhipicephalus appendiculatus ticks, which had engorged on immunized cattle in the field. The transmission from healthy recovered cattle housed indoors was less efficient, even with high numbers of ticks (300). Two out of seven attempts were successful and disease reactions were rather severe. A non-pathogenic Theileria assumed to be Theileria taurotragi was transmitted in three out of seven attempts.