Transmission and diagnosis of equine babesiosis in South Africa

Abstract

The transmission and prevalence of Babesia equi and B. caballi are being studied. Rhipicephalus evertsi mimeticus an ixodid tick from Namibia was identified as a new vector of B. equi, however, R. turanicus, previously reported to be a vector, failed to transmit both B. equi and B. caballi in the laboratory. The accurate diagnosis of B. caballi is being investigated because the nature of its low level parasitaemia does not allow easy detection in thin blood smears, routinely used for diagnosis, by clinicians. Consequently its role as a pathogen remains obscure. The importance of identifying infected horses, destined for export to Babesia-free countries, is also stressed. Thick and thin blood smears, serology (IFAT) and DNA probes are currently employed to study disease prevalence. To date 293 healthy, adult, thoroughbred horses have been screened by all three methods. The percentage positives are as follows: B. equi 4.4%, 70.6%, 13% and B. caballi 0.7%, 37%, 18.4% respectively. The DNA probes were more sensitive than blood smear examination for diagnosing carrier infections but are probably not sensitive enough to identify all carrier infections. A poor correlation was found between detection of the parasites' DNA and seropositivity. However, polymerase chain reaction could be used to amplify parasite DNA in a particular sample and this could result in more accurate diagnosis.

Clinical, haematological and therapeutic studies on babesiosis in Arabian horses in the Qassim region, central of Saudi Arabia

“…Similar findings were reported previously by Potgieter et al (1992) who recorded that intrauterine infections may result in abortion and neonatal death and Teglas et al (2005) who found that diseases related to the tick-borne infections (chronic) can frequently result in abortion and decrease in weight gain. Often clinical signs of piroplasmosis are too general to allow specific diagnosis and may be confused with other diseases especially in endemic areas.…”

Equine Piroplasmoses at the Reintroduction Site of the Przewalski's Horse (Equus Ferus Przewalskii) in Mongolia

“…Losses in Przewalski's horses directly affect the outcome of the reintroduction project (Robert et al, 2005). In addition to possible higher mortality rates, it is reported that T. equi plays an important role in reproduction failure in endemic areas (Neitz, 1956;Donnelly et al, 1982;Potgieter et al, 1992). During the reintroduction, two main factors are responsible for the high susceptibility of Przewalski's horses to clinical piroplasmosis.…”

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Analysis of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi Infections in Equids from Erbil Province, North of Iraq

“…The clinical symptoms of EP are often varied and non-specific. Therefore, distinction between both type of infection based on clinical signs alone is impossible and mixed infections also occur (Potgieter et al, 1992;Rothschild and Knowles, 2007).…”