Piroplasmosis is a tick-borne disease affecting horses, caused by the protozoan parasites Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. These parasites invade and multiply within the red blood cells of the host, leading to hemolytic anemia. Clinical signs of piroplasmosis in horses may include fever, lethargy, jaundice, and anemia, although some horses may remain asymptomatic carriers. Diagnosis is typically confirmed through blood tests, including serological assays and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Piroplasmosis can impact equine health and performance, and it poses challenges for international horse movement due to quarantine regulations. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnostic methods, and management strategies for equine piroplasmosis.
Mège M, Bonsergent C, Viry L, Dhune M, Lecollinet S, Malandrin L.Equine piroplasmosis is a major tick-borne horse disease, caused by the intracellular development of piroplasms (Theileria equi sensu lato and Babesia caballi), with significant economic and sanitary consequences. In 2024, 203 blood samples were collected in Guadeloupe (Caribbean) from asymptomatic horses. Using an 18S rRNA nested PCR (nPCR) specific for each equine genus parasite, 79 samples tested positive for Theileria equi and 9 for Babesia caballi, resulting in respective prevalence of 38.9% and 4.4%. Three horses were co-infected. For B. caballi, 18S rRNA sequence analysis revealed the p...
Alsultan A, Karim SM, Al-Saadi M, Alsallami D, Ben Said M, Belkahia H.Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by the intracellular protozoa Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Theileria haneyi, represents a major health and economic threat to the equine industry worldwide. Existing diagnostic methods, including PCR, serology, and microscopy, are constrained by their dependence on specialized equipment, lengthy protocols, and the requirement for skilled personnel. Objective: This study aimed to develop a rapid, accurate, and field-deployable molecular diagnostic assay for T. equi. Methods: A nucleic acid-based diagnostic platform combining recombinase polymerase ampli...
Vernaccini M, de Marchi L, Bindi F, Meucci V, Sala G, Cingottini D, Sgorbini M.Antibiotics are essential in veterinary medicine, enhancing animal health and welfare. However, widespread use contributes to resistance, increasing the risk of treatment failure and the transmission to humans. Objective: Analyze antibiotic prescribing practices in an equine internal medicine unit, focusing on factors influencing use, particularly Highest Priority Critically Important Antimicrobials (HPCIAs). Methods: 1315 adult equids, including horses, donkeys and mules, presented for different diseases to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) of the University of Pisa from 2011 to 2023. Re...
Cardillo NN, Villarino NF, Kappmeyer LS, Chung CJ, Suarez CE, Bastos RG.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of equids caused by the intraerythrocytic apicomplexan parasites Theileria equi, Babesia caballi and the recently identified Theileria haneyi. Acute cases can be severe, with anemia, jaundice, abortion or sudden death. Survivors remain lifelong carriers, serving as reservoirs for tick-borne and iatrogenic transmission. No vaccines are currently available, and control strategies rely heavily on accurate diagnostics and chemotherapeutic intervention. Imidocarb dipropionate (ID) is the current standard of care for both acute treatment and radical ...
Machado RZ, André MR, Pereira JG, Oliveira MDSC, Ribeiro LSDS, Toledo CZP, Gonçalves LR.Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by the protozoan parasites Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, and Theileria haneyi, characterized by intravascular hemolysis and associated systemic illness. Although T. equi and B. caballi have been widely reported in some regions of Brazil, data from other states are limited. Additionally, despite reports of T. equi genotype C, currently recognized as T. haneyi, has been identified in Brazil, there are no investigations using T. haneyi-specific molecular tools. This study assessed the presence of these three agents in horses from Baixada...
Silva-Ramos CR, Niño Rodríguez JA, Gil-Mora J, Betancourt-Ruiz P, Martínez-Díaz HC, Forero-Becerra E, Matiz-González JM, Bolaños E, Olaya-M LA....Babesia species are tick-borne protozoan parasites which affect several animal species. Babesia spp. infections are significantly important for veterinary medicine, affecting a wide range of domestic animal species such as dogs, cattle, and horses. In Colombia, studies of Babesia spp. infections in domestic animals are scarce. Thus, the aim of the present study was to explore the circulation of these parasites among domestic canines, bovines and equines from the department of Cauca. Methods: Between August and November, 2017, active domestic animal sampling of cattle was performed in eight rur...
