Redwater infection, or babesiosis as it is also known, is a disease in cattle that can have detrimental effects on affected cattle, and Agriland has been informed of some cases on farms in recent weeks.
The name of the disease comes from one of the key symptoms of an infected animal – frothy urine with a red-brownish colour.
Livestock are particularly susceptible to redwater when on under-grazed, rough pastures.
The disease is transmitted by ticks, and farmers should aim to prevent animals from being bitten by keeping pastures short and well-managed.
Generally speaking, the highest risk periods are in late spring/early summer and autumn, but cases may occur throughout the year if conditions are suitable.
Cattle older than 6-9 months-of-age that are introduced from an area with low redwater susceptibility to high redwater susceptibility are most at risk pf infection and serious illness.
Calves exhibit some degree of natural resistance to redwater compared to adult cattle, and cattle under six months-of-age tend not to develop clinical disease.
This explains why many closed herds in the most heavily-infested areas of the country rarely get clinical redwater, according to Animal Health Ireland.
Redwater signs and symptom
Keeping pastures well managed can help prevent the disease but margins near hedges may still be a suitable environment for these ticks to reside.
After an animal is bitten by a redwater-infected tick, it can take up to three weeks for any signs of disease to show.
Early signs of redwater:
- Reduced appetite;
- High temperature;
- Animals staying away from the group;
- Frothy urine with a red-brownish colour (giveaway symptom);
- Diarrhoea (often ‘pipe-stem diarrhoea’ passed as a thin jet).
Advanced signs of redwater:
- Weakness/staggering, animal unable to stand;
- Changes in colour of gums and under eyelids to very pale (anaemic) or yellow (jaundice);
- Constipation;
- Death.
Animals can die quickly following the first appearance of symptoms, so when an animal has redwater, an early diagnosis and timely veterinary treatment are key to survival.
Treatment may include an injection of imidocarb dipropionate to kill the parasite. However, this drug has a withdrawal period of 213 days for meat and 21 days for milk.
There are preventative products on the market such as topical tick treatments or preventive drug treatment that can prevent redwater.
Concerned farmers should speak to their veterinary practitioner on the best approach for their herd.
