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Bovine besnoitiosis

Bovine besnoitiosis is a disease of cattle caused by a protozoal organism called Besnoitia besnoiti.

Clinical signs

The disease results in both systemic and skin clinical signs.

Possibly the most common sign is the presence of cysts in the scleral conjunctivae and/or vulval area of cows. These look like grains of sugar. For full details of clinical signs, please see the information sheet below.

Treatment

There are currently no effective drugs or vaccines available in Europe.

Geographical location

Countries outside of Europe where this disease is present include Africa where it is widely distributed. 

Bovine besnoitiosis has recently been classed as an emerging disease in western and central Europe, due to a recent increase in reported cases and a geographic expansion of the disease in cattle herds in continental Europe. The disease has been present in some parts of France, Spain and Portugal for many years. More recently, it has been confirmed in a beef cattle herd in Germany, after cattle were imported from France.

The disease has not yet been identified in Great Britain. However, there is a possibility that the disease could be imported via live cattle from affected areas.

Please consider bovine besnoitiosis as a potential differential diagnosis in cases with appropriate clinical signs.

Please report any suspected cases to a Veterinary Investigation Officer (VIO) at your local VLA regional laboratory or SAC disease surveillance centre.  VIOs will be happy to offer further guidance and advice as required.

For further information about bovine besnoitiosis including images, please see the information sheet below.