CLINICAL DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH ANAPLASMA PHAGOCYTOPHILUM INFECTION IN CAPTIVE PRZEWALSKI’S HORSES (EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKII).

The research article focuses on the clinical diseases associated with Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection among Przewalski’s horses. The study confirms the cases of anaplasmosis, describes their signs, and suggests treatment methods.

Detailed Explanation

• The study centers around Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a pathogen generally transmitted by ticks to domestic horses. The pathogen leads to equine granulocytic anaplasmosis, a disease condition in horses.
• In this research, the pathology and results of the anaplasmosis cases that arose in Przewalski’s horses at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute have been examined. It spans from the year 2008 to 2014.
• The article mentions the different clinical signs shown by individual horses. These varied widely and ranged from lethargy and weakness to reluctance to move, ataxia or even fever (pyrexia) among the horses.
• Symptoms such as hypophagia, a condition characterized by decreased food consumption, were also noticed.

Diagnostic Measures

• The Anaplasmosis cases were diagnosed using a multipronged approach. It involved identifying neutrophilic inclusions (morulae) on peripheral blood smears, conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of whole blood samples, and testing for convalescent titers.
• The study advocates that the diagnosis should be based on a combination of observed clinical signs and lab-identified morulae or a positive A. phagocytophilum PCR result.

Treatment and Recommendations

• All the treated animals showed recovery after undergoing antimicrobial therapy with a medication called oxytetracycline.
• According to the research, treatment is generally curative, given either intramuscularly or intravenously. It is followed by daily therapy with oxytetracycline or with minocycline for a time frame between 14 to 30 days.
• The authors finally recommend that veterinarians consider A. phagocytophilum infection on any differential diagnosis list for Przewalski’s horses that display symptoms such as fever or ataxia, particularly in or near areas where the disease is endemic.