Prevalence of bovine haemoparasites in Aceh province of Northern Sumatra: Implications for imported cattle

A limited seroepidemiological investigation was conducted in Aceh Province to determine the seroprevalence of Anaplasma marginale and Trypanosoma evansi in indigenous cattle and in groups of Sahiwal cross cattle imported from New Zealand in 1985. The results obtained suggest that these parasites are endemic in the areas surveyed; in local cattle, overall prevalence rates of 82% for A. marginale and 61% for T. evansi were obtained.

Thin blood smears were prepared from 42 anaemic adult cattle and 19 clinically normal calves. Babesia bigemina was detected in 5 blood smears and Theileria orientalis in 51. Sahiwal cattle imported from New Zealand suffered high mortalities during their first year in Aceh and it is suggested that imported naive cattle rapidly become infected with blood parasites.