Anterior uveitis and corneal opacity in young calves infected with theileria annulata - report of two cases

Theileriosis is one of the crucial vector-transmitted diseases in cross-bred dairy cattle in India and it is commonly caused by Theileria annulata. Frequently reported clinical signs in theileriosis were pyrexia, lymphadenopathy, conjunctival petechiae, and anemia. The purpose of the present communication report the anterior uveitis and bilateral corneal opacity in young crossbred calves due to theileriosis. Two Jersey crossbred calves aged between 22 to 40 days were presented to the clinic with a history of inappetence, pyrexia, severe tick infestation, corneal opacity, and proptosis. Ultrasonography of the eye revealed anterior uveitis and peripheral blood smears revealed the presence of piroplasms of Theileria in the erythrocytes and further confirmation was done by PCR assay. The calves were treated with injections of buparvaquone, flunixin meglumine, and vitamin A along with eye drops containing gatifloxacin, flurbiprofen, and carboxy methyl cellulose sodium.