APHA says there has been a general increase in tick-borne disease reports in recent years, with some cases now appearing outside the usual risk season and in counties where disease had not been reported for several years.
That is a significant warning for Northeast producers. Disease surveillance has already documented bovine babesiosis in Northumberland, while broader monitoring has shown that although the Southwest remains the main hotspot, other geographical risk areas are now clearly emerging. This year, APHA also warned that vets were seeing outbreaks on newly affected farms in areas not typically associated with tick-borne disease.
Signs and symptoms
Babesiosis in the UK is usually caused by blood-borne parasite Babesia divergens, spread by the tick Ixodes ricinus. As the parasite infects and destroys red blood cells, animals become increasingly anaemic.
Affected cattle may show fever, dullness, pale gums and the classic red or brown urine that gives the disease its common name, redwater. If treatment to kill the blood parasite is delayed, losses can include reduced performance, abortion and death.
Early diagnosis is key
The practical message is simple: do not assume your farm is out of the danger zone. Cattle grazing rough ground, wetter pasture edges, woodland margins or bracken-heavy fields may face greater tick exposure, and APHA is encouraging vets to investigate suspect cases quickly. Early diagnosis matters, because fast treatment can reduce losses and help prevent a single case becoming a bigger problem.
If farmers notice dull cattle, anaemia or red urine during the grazing season, the advice is to contact their vet promptly and review grazing, tick control and herd health plans.
Treatment
Preventative options include prophylactic treatment when moving cattle into high-risk areas and breeding home-reared replacements.
Calves under six months are relatively resistant to clinical disease and can develop strong immunity following exposure. Where possible, managing access to high-risk areas and supporting the development of natural immunity is preferable to prophylactic treatment.
Bought-in stock should be assumed to have limited natural immunity and may require additional protection.
Tick treatments and Redwater vaccines are available in some countries but are not authorised in the UK. Farmers should discuss suitable preventative approaches with their vet.
APHA’s figures suggest babesiosis is no longer standing still — and awareness in the Northeast needs to keep pace to protect animals.
Useful resources
- Check diseases in your area – APHA tick borne cattle diseases dashboard
- General dashboard and surveillance information
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