Theileria (Babesia) equi and Babesia caballi infections in horses in Galicia, Spain.

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Trop Anim Health Prod. 2005 May;37(4):293-302.

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Theileria (Babesia) equi and Babesia caballi infections in horses in Galicia, Spain.Camacho AT, Guitian FJ, Pallas E, Gestal JJ, Olmeda AS, Habela MA, Telford SR 3rd, Spielman A.Laboratorio Lema & Bandin, C / Lepanto 5, bajo, 36201 Vigo, Spain. atcamacho@...The control of equine piroplasmosis is becoming increasingly important to maintain the international market open to the horse industry. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the occurrence of equine piroplasmosis (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) in Galicia, north-west Spain, and to compare haematological and serum biochemistry parameters between non-parasitaemic horses and horses parasitaemic with T. equi and B. caballi. Sixty serum samples (control group) were taken from healthy horses pastured on two farms, and examined for evidence of equine T. equi and B. caballi infection by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Of the 60 samples, 24 (40%) and 17 (28.3%) samples were positive for T. equi and B. caballi, respectively. Twelve (20%) samples were positive for both parasites. Haematology and serum biochemistry were compared between controls and a series of 36 horses clinically affected by T. equi (25) or B. caballi (11). Compared with the healthy group, there was a 43% and 37% decrease in the haematocrit for T. equi and B. caballi infection, respectively. Parasitaemic horses presented an intense anaemia and serum biochemistry signs of liver damage. The anaemia was more severe in T. equi-infected than in B. caballi-infected horses. Our results suggest that equine piroplasmosis is widespread in the region and is a cause for concern.PMID: 15934637 [PubMed - in process]

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What's interesting to me as a horse owner, is not that they were

infected, but that the owners did not know they were anemic prior to

this study. So much so, that there was between a 37% and 43% drop in

hematocrit.

They obviously never pulled blood before- and if they did no one

wondered why they were anemic?

And a >40% rate of infection tells me the owners are not minding

what's going on - on this particular farm anyway. The horses

performance had to be suffering - Maybe that's why they picked this

region or farm?

Barb

QUOTE:

Compared with the healthy group, there was a 43% and 37% decrease in

the haematocrit for T. equi and B. caballi infection, respectively.

Parasitaemic horses presented an intense anaemia and serum

biochemistry signs of liver damage. The anaemia was more severe in T.

equi-infected than in B. caballi-infected horses. END QUOTE

> Trop Anim Health Prod. 2005 May;37(4):293-302. Related

Articles, Links

>

>

> Theileria (Babesia) equi and Babesia caballi infections in horses

in Galicia, Spain.

>

> Camacho AT, Guitian FJ, Pallas E, Gestal JJ, Olmeda AS, Habela MA,

Telford SR 3rd, Spielman A.

>

> Laboratorio Lema & Bandin, C / Lepanto 5, bajo, 36201 Vigo, Spain.

atcamacho@t...

>

> The control of equine piroplasmosis is becoming increasingly

important to maintain the international market open to the horse

industry. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the occurrence

of equine piroplasmosis (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) in

Galicia, north-west Spain, and to compare haematological and serum

biochemistry parameters between non-parasitaemic horses and horses

parasitaemic with T. equi and B. caballi. Sixty serum samples

(control group) were taken from healthy horses pastured on two farms,

and examined for evidence of equine T. equi and B. caballi infection

by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Of the 60 samples, 24

(40%) and 17 (28.3%) samples were positive for T. equi and B.

caballi, respectively. Twelve (20%) samples were positive for both

parasites. Haematology and serum biochemistry were compared between

controls and a series of 36 horses clinically affected by T. equi

(25) or B. caballi (11). Compared with the healthy group, there was a

43% and 37% decrease in the haematocrit for T. equi and B. caballi

infection, respectively. Parasitaemic horses presented an intense

anaemia and serum biochemistry signs of liver damage. The anaemia was

more severe in T. equi-infected than in B. caballi-infected horses.

Our results suggest that equine piroplasmosis is widespread in the

region and is a cause for concern.

>

> PMID: 15934637 [PubMed - in process]