Theileria lawrencei: infection in the Indian water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis

Two Indian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), experimentally infected with Theileria lawrencei (Serengeti) by inoculation of stabilate material, died from acute theileriosis. Macroschizonts were first detected in both buffalo in the peripheral lymph node regional to the site of inoculation 8 days later. No microschizonts were seen in either animal and intraerythrocytic theilerial piroplasms were only detected in one in very low numbers. Both buffalo had marked febrile responses and died on Days 15 and 16 after exposure, when only low numbers of lymphoid cells were parasitized with macroschizonts, the vast majority of which contained few nuclei. Both buffalo showed evidence of terminal leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. On post mortem both animals showed generalised hyperplasia and edema of all lymphoid tissues, gross edema of the lungs, and hemorrhages in the heart and kidneys. T. lawrencei (Serengeti) infections of water buffalo and of cattle are compared and shown to be very similar.