Texas cattle fever

disease

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Texas fever, also known as cattle fever, is an infectious disease that affects cattle. It is caused by a protozoan parasite, Babesia bigemina, which multiplies in the animal's bloodstream and destroys red blood cells. This disease is transmitted by specific types of ticks, namely Rhipicephalus annulatus and R. microplus, commonly referred to as cattle ticks. The first recorded use of the term "Texas fever" dates back to 1866.12

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Theobald Smith
…was carried out (1888–93) on Texas cattle fever. He discovered that the disease is caused by a protozoan parasite (Pyrosoma bigeminum [now called Babesia bigemina]) that is transmitted to uninfected cattle by blood-sucking ticks. This was the first definite proof of the role ticks and other arthropods (including insects) can…
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…was carried out (1888–93) on Texas cattle fever. He discovered that the disease is caused by a protozoan parasite (Pyrosoma bigeminum [now called Babesia bigemina]) that is transmitted to uninfected cattle by blood-sucking ticks. This was the first definite proof of the role ticks and other arthropods (including insects) can…
Read More