Epidemiological Status of Bovine Theileriosis in Uttar Pradesh a state of India

Tropical theileriosis has long been recognized as a hindrance to the development of sound dairy industry in the India and is a cause of major economic losses. Serological surveys indicated that Theileria annulata infection is widespread in the country but the disease mostly affects exotic dairy breeds and their crosses with indigenous breeds. The prevalence of Theileria infection in tick vector Hyalomma anatolicum collected from healthy animals of Sub-humid regions of India. Theileria caused by Theileria annulata is economically important vector borne haemoprotozoan disease of livestock. Theileria is responsible for causing theileriosis resulting in death of affected animals. The disease is endemic in warmer regions, it is seasonal and the incidence is higher during summer and rainy season when the ticks have higher activity although sporadic outbreaks have been recorded year round. It is a potential killer of livestock and causes economic losses in terms of mortality, morbidity, abortion, infertility, reduced milk yield etc. The disease is underestimated in cattle due to sub clinical nature. The conventional parasitological techniques are less sensitive. More than 80 percent of infections are cryptic and undetectable by direct microscopy. This paper briefly discuss about the occurrence, control and the economic importance of Theileria spp. in Western Himalayan region of Uttar Pradesh.