This study aimed to determine whether asymptomatic horses naturally infected with Theileria equi retain infected erythrocytes in the spleen and whether the presence of the hemoparasite in this organ is associated with parasitemia. We collected samples from 25 adult horses without clinical signs of any disease. From each animal, we collected whole blood samples from the jugular vein and a splenic puncture blood sample. All samples were submited to blood cell counts and detection of Theileria or Babesia. DNA extraction and PCR were performed in all samples for identification of piroplasm infection (T. equi and B. caballi). From the 25 horses evaluated for piroplasm detection by PCR, seven horses (28%) were positive in jugular vein blood but negative in splenic blood samples, five horses (20%) were positive in splenic blood samples but negative in jugular vein blood samples, and 13 horses (52%) were positive in both jugular vein and splenic blood samples. The hematological evaluation revealed anemia in 13 of 25 (52%) infected horses, lymphopenia in five (20%), neutrophilia in two (8%), neutropenia in one (4%), and thrombocytopenia in one (4%) infected horse. The present study demonstrated that several (20%) of the asymptomatic piroplasm carrier horses did not show parasitemia, but show infected erythrocytes in the spleen.
RESUMO -O presente artigo teve como objetivo realizar um estudo retrospectivo dos principais achados clínicos-epidemiológicos em 25 casos de cólica em equídeos do Rio Grande do Norte. Vinte e cinco equídeos (21 cavalos, três muares e um asinino) foram incluídos. O tratamento clínico foi realizado em 15 equídeos com compactação do cólon moderada (n = 6), timpanismo cecal (n = 4), sobrecarga gástrica (n = 3), compactação de ceco (n = 1) e úlceras gástricas (n = 1). Seis equinos com compactação do cólon grave (n = 2), retenção de mecônio (n = 2), deslocamento dorsal do cólon maior esquerdo (n = 1) e arterite verminótica (n = 1) foram submetidos à laparotomia exploratória. Quatro equinos não foram tratados devido aos distúrbios sistêmicos graves e prognóstico ruim. A maior incidência ocorreu em equinos Quarto de Milha e seus mestiços, seguidos por muares e casos únicos em um pônei e um asinino . Compactações do intestino grosso e o timpanismo cecal foram as principais causas de cólica em equídeos deste estudo, e, principalmente, como consequência do manejo alimentar errôneo por parte dos proprietários ou tratadores.Palavras-Chave: abdome agudo; inchaço do ceco; impactação; laparotomia exploradora.ABSTRACT -The present article aimed to conduct a retrospective study of the main clinical and epidemiological findings in 25 cases of colic in equidae from Rio Grande do Norte. Twenty five equidae (21 horses, three mules and one donkey) were included. Clinical treatment was performed in 15 equidae with moderate large colon impaction (n = 6), cecal bloat (n = 4), gastric overload (n = 3), cecal impaction (n = 1) and gastric ulcers (n = 1). Six horses with severe large colon impaction (n = 2), meconium impaction (n = 2), left dorsal displacement of the large colon (n = 1) and verminotic arteritis (n = 1) were submitted to exploratory laparotomy. Four horses were not treated due to severe systemic disturbances and poor prognosis. Higher incidence occurred in Quarter horses and crossbreed horses followed by mules and single cases in a pony and a donkey. Impactions of the large intestine and cecal bloat were the major causes of colic in equidae from this study; and mainly resulted from erroneous feeding management by the owners or handlers.
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