Dermatological signs in bovine tropical theileriosis (T heileria annulata infection), a review

Bovine tropical theileriosis (Theileria annulata infection) is an important tick-borne disease in several regions of the world. This paper describes two clinical cases of tropical theileriosis in northern Tunisia with the uncommon sign of skin nodules. The density of nodules was estimated at 15-20 per 10 cm2; they were distributed over the animal's body and were 0.5-2 cm in diameter. Microscopic examination of the skin nodules 18 days after treatment onset showed a perivascular infiltrate of lymphocytes, macrophages and eosinophils. Nevertheless, no schizonts were observed. Appropriate treatment led to the recovery of one of the two animals with total disappearance of the skin lesions; the other animal died. A review of clinical cases of tropical theileriosis (T. annulata infection) with cutaneous lesions is presented. Various dermatological signs are described in the literature: skin nodules, haemorrhagic lesions, cutaneous gangrene, etc. Most authors reported the presence of schizonts in the nodular lesions. Dermatological involvement in bovine tropical theileriosis should be considered by field veterinarians and should be differentiated from other diseases with dermatological signs.