Intra‐uterine Infection with Babesia bovis in a 2‐day‐old Calf

Infection with Babesia bovis was diagnosed in a 2‐day‐old female calf apparently transmitted in utero. The calf was born as the second calving to a cross‐bred beef cow permanently on pasture. Diagnosis was based upon identification of B. bovis in peripheral blood smears and clinical signs which included fever, jaundice, pale mucous membranes and convulsions. Anaemia, leucocytosis, thrombocytopenia and lymphocytosis were noted at the febrile acute stage of the disease. The blood smears revealed evidence of regeneration of toxic neutrophils with a left shift, severe spherocytosis and high degree of basophilic stippling. Elevated concentration of aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase were also noted, and were probably the result of haemolysis, dehydration and muscle damage because of recumbancy. Elevated total bilirubin concentration following haemolysis resulted in jaundice. The neurological symptoms observed were probably caused by sludging of parasitized erythrocytes in the brain capillaries. The calf recovered following treatment with diminazene aceturate and the recovery was followed up clinically, haematologically and biochemically.     

The effect of the ovine host parasitaemia on the development of Babesia ovis (Babes, 1892) in the tick Rhipicephalus bursa (Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877)

Batches of Rhipicephalus bursa adult ticks were fed on two lambs with 10.0% (batch 1) and 0.3% (batch 2) Babesia ovis parasitaemia, respectively. Haemolymph and eggs were checked for parasites daily after detachment, before and after appearance of B. ovis in the lamb's blood.B. ovis kinetes were found in the haemolymph and eggs earlier in the engorged ticks detached before appearance of the parasite in the host blood. Rates of haemolymph and egg infection with B. ovis as well as the percentage of infected eggs were much higher in batch 1 (10% lamb parasitaemia) than in batch 2 ticks (0.3% lamb parasitaemia). In eggs incubated at 28 degrees C the optimal period to look for kinetes seems to be days 4-9. Heavily infected ticks laid fewer less eggs within a shorter oviposition period. Pre-oviposition, pre-hatching periods and egg hatchability were not affected. Various parasitic forms are described in the haemolymph and the eggs.     

Emergence of classical swine fever virus in Israel in 2009

Classical swine fever (CSF) re-emerged in Israel in February 2009 after an absence of 62 years. The outbreak occurred on a domestic pig farm in northern Israel and affected domestic pigs and wild boar. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis of a 190 base pair fragment of the E2 glycoprotein gene, the Israeli CSF virus strain belonged to genotype 2.1 and was genetically most similar to a Chinese CSF virus strain.     

Notes on the biology of the tick Rhipicephalus bursa (Canestrini and Fanzago, 1877) in Israel

The seasonal distribution of the tick Rhipicephalus bursa in sheep has been studied during one year in two neighbouring flocks of Awassi sheep in an enzootic focus of sheep babesiosis. Rates of tick infestation on the two flocks were very different. Pre-imaginal stages were found on the sheep during the winter months of November-March while adult ticks appeared in the middle of April and persisted until the end of July. First clinical cases of babesiosis in sheep were diagnosed 2 weeks after finding the first adult ticks. The pre-imaginal stages were found mainly in the pinnas while adult ticks preferred in decreasing order the tail, body and head. Few adult ticks were found on the legs.     

Mortality in calves, lambs and kids caused by severe infestation with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835) in Israel

Heavy infestation of calves, lambs and kids with the cat flea Ctenocephalides felis felis (Bouché, 1835), accompanied by severe anaemia and mortality, is described. Lambs and kids were affected more severely than calves. Flea infestation was more widespread in summer and autumn than in winter and spring. The clinical findings are discussed in the light of the pertinent literature.     

Myiasis caused by Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner, 1862) in the Arabian camel (Camelus dromedarius) in the Peninsula of Sinai

Massive myiasis caused by Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Schiner, 1862) in camels in the Southern Mountainous zone of the Peninsula of Sinai is described. Wohlfahrtiosis seemed intimately related to the climatic and ecological conditions of the area, particularly altitude, precipitation, pasture, rodents and ticks. The clinical features resembled those described in sheep in Israel and in camels elsewhere. Treatment with diazinon and synergized pyrethrum in pine oil proved effective.