Characterization of an outbreak of emerging bovine besnoitiosis in southwestern Spain

Bovine besnoitiosis is an emerging disease in Europe, presenting quick spread toward central and southern Spain. Characterization of an outbreak in a free-ranging Limousin and Avilena beef cattle herd from southwestern Spain territories is attempted. Serological survey in the herd revealed increase of number of infected animals, from 34.3 % on first diagnoses/exams on December 2013 to 42.5 % in the second on April 2014. Blood analysis and serum biochemistry showed important alterations like leukocytosis (+33.2 % of mean value), with lymphocytosis (+205.3 %) and increase of LDH (+25.1 %), associated with tissue damage. Clinical cases were only observed in Limousin animals. Along with typical lesions of acute and chronic besnoitiosis, inflammatory and degenerative processes and parasitic cysts were present in the corpus cavernosum and the corpus spongiosum of penis. By using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing of 18S rDNA, Besnoitia besnoiti was confirmed as causative agent; microsatellite sequence analyses showed the homology of isolates with previously studied strains.