Bovine tropical theileriosis: effects on the cardiovascular system on the basis of serum analysis

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of tropical theileriosis on the cardiovascular system in cattle. Blood samples were collected from 50 selected crossbred Holstein cattle, naturally infected with Theileria annulata (infected group) and also 10 noninfected cattle. The diseased animals were divided to two subgroups according to their parasitemia rates (<2 and 2–4 %). Hematological parameters and the serum concentrations of total homocysteine (tHcy), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatine kinase (CK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were measured. Our results revealed a progressive anemia in infected cattle. In addition, the levels of tHcy and cTnI and the activities of AST, ALT, CK, and LDH showed remarkable increases in infected cattle; however, with increase in parasitemia rate in infected animals, no substantial differences were observed in the serum concentrations of measured biochemical parameters. These results imply that the infection with Theileria annulata in cattle can induce significant myocardial tissue damage. In addition, anemia and consequently the hypoxia might have a role in the parasite-induced myocardial injury in the diseased animals.