Analyses for alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities, and iron concentration were carried out in infected and uninfected cattle in order to determine the degree of hepatic damage and blood iron status caused by Theileria annulata and Babesia bigemina. Blood samples from 30 infected and 20 uninfected cattle with T. annulata and also from 40 infected and 20 uninfected cattle with B. bigemina were taken. The biochemical analyses revealed increased serum AST and ALP activities in infected cattle with T. annulata and B. bigemina compared with uninfected cattle (P<0.05). Significant decreases in iron concentration were observed in cattle infected with T. annulata and B. bigemina when compared with uninfected cattle (P<0.05) although the level of serum iron concentration in infected cattle was within the normal reference values for cattle. It was concluded that iron deficiency anemia is not an important factor in T. annulataand even in B. bigemina-infected cattle with severe intravascular hemolysis. The increased activities of serum enzymes indicated the hepatic injuries associated with infection with T. annulata and B. bigemina.

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