Topic:Babesia
Babesia is a genus of protozoan parasites that infect red blood cells in horses, leading to a disease known as equine piroplasmosis. This condition is transmitted primarily through tick bites and can result in a range of clinical signs, including fever, anemia, jaundice, and lethargy. The disease has significant implications for equine health and management due to its impact on horse performance and international trade. Various species of Babesia affect horses, with Babesia caballi and Theileria equi being the most notable. This topic includes a collection of peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and control measures related to Babesia infections in horses.
Complement fixation tests for equine piroplasmosis (Babesia equi and B caballi) performed in the UK during 1976 to 1979. The results of complement fixation (CF) test for equine piroplasmosis on sera from horses destined for international movement from Great Britain and Ireland are presented and analysed. No horses born and continuously resident in the British Isles were found carrying CF antibodies to either Babesia equi or B caballi. Positive animals were found to have association with the following countries where known tick vectors occur: Spain, Portugal, Belgium, France, Poland, USSR and Arabian Gulf countries. Data on the persistence of CF antibodies in animals subjected to repeated testing showed that some...