Texas Fever, or Tick Fever, is a disease that affects cattle, causing fever, anemia, and loss of appetite. The term is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /ˈtɛksəs ˈfiːvər/. The first syllable is spelled with the open-mid front unrounded vowel /ɛ/, the second with the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/. The stress falls on the first syllable. The second part, "Fever," is spelled as it sounds, with the long vowel /iː/ and the postvocalic schwa /ər/.
Texas fever, also known as cattle fever or tick fever, is a highly contagious infectious disease that affects domesticated cattle caused by the protozoan parasite, Babesia bovis, transmitted by cattle ticks of the genus Boophilus. It is characterized by intermittent fevers, anemia, weakness, and weight loss in infected animals.
Texas fever primarily occurs in warm regions, like the southern United States and parts of Mexico, where its tick vectors thrive. The disease is usually acquired when an infected tick attaches itself to a healthy animal for feeding, introducing the parasite into the bloodstream. The Babesia parasites invade and multiply within the red blood cells, causing them to rupture and leading to anemia. As the disease progresses, infected animals may develop severe symptoms, including jaundice, respiratory distress, and in severe cases, death.
The economic impact of Texas fever is significant, as it can cause substantial losses in the agricultural industry due to reduced milk production, decreased fertility, increased disease susceptibility, and even death in infected cattle herds. To prevent the spread of the disease, measures such as quarantine, tick control treatments, and breed selection of resistant cattle are employed by farmers and ranchers. Additionally, countries with tick-free regions may also impose import restrictions on cattle originating from areas where Texas fever is prevalent.
Overall, Texas fever is a highly contagious and economically damaging infectious disease of cattle caused by the Babesia bovis parasite, primarily transmitted by cattle ticks. Effective preventive measures and control strategies are crucial in minimizing its impact on cattle populations.
Redwater fever, bovine hemoglobinuria, bovine malaria, southern cattle fever; an infectious disease of cattle in the Southwestern United States and other subtropical regions; it is marked by fever, splenic enlargement, gastritis, and hemoglobinuria; the cause is the presence in the blood of a protozoan parasite, Babesia bigeminum, which is transmitted by a tick Margaropus annulatus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "Texas Fever" originated from the disease commonly known as "Babesiosis" or "Cattle Tick Fever". The word "Texas" refers to the region where the disease was first identified and named, which is the state of Texas in the United States. The disease was observed in Texas during the mid-19th century, where it caused significant losses in the cattle industry.
The specific etymology of the word "Texas" is uncertain, but it likely comes from indigenous Native American languages spoken in the area. Some theories propose that it originates from the Caddo word "taysha" meaning "friend" or "ally", while others suggest it comes from the Spanish word "tejas", meaning "tiles" or "shingles" due to the Native American houses in the region.