Experimental Babesia equi infection in mature horses.
Abstract: Nine 4-year-old Arabian geldings were experimentally infected with Babesia equi of European origin. All horses developed detectable parasitemia an average of 30 days after they were inoculated, which was accompanied by a decrease in PCV. The infections were generally mild with no animal deaths. All horses became serologically positive by the indirect fluorescent antibody test within an average of 23 days after they were inoculated and by the complement-fixation test 30 days after they were inoculated.
Publication Date: 1986-08-01 PubMed ID: 3530065
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research discusses an experimental infection of Babesia equi, a parasitic disease affecting horses, in nine Arabian geldings. The infected horses developed symptoms about 30 days post infection, and no fatalities were reported.
Objective of the Research
The objective of this research is to understand the effects of an experimental infection of Babesia equi in mature Arabian horses. The researchers sought to understand the progression of infection, the observable symptoms, and the immune response.
Methodology
- The study involved nine 4-year-old Arabian geldings that were deliberately infected with Babesia equi of European origin.
- The researchers monitored the horses over a period of time to track the progression of the disease post-infection.
- The level of parasitemia or presence of parasites in the horses’ bloodstream, and the resulting decrease in PCV (packed cell volume) were the two key clinical descriptors used in this study.
- The test methods used were the indirect fluorescent antibody test and the complement-fixation test, conducted approximately 23 and 30 days after inoculation, respectively.
Findings and Conclusion
- All the infected horses developed detectable parasitemia approximately 30 days after they were inoculated.
- Additionally, a decrease in packed cell volume (PCV) was noted, which is usually indicative of anemia, common in cases of severe Babesia equi infection.
- The study found that the experimental Babesia equi infections were generally mild and resulted in no deaths among the horses.
- Prior to the inoculation, the horses were serologically negative. However, all the horses tested positive by the indirect fluorescent antibody test 23 days post inoculation, and by the complement-fixation test 30 days post inoculation, indicating that the horses’ immune systems had reacted to the parasite.
- This suggests that mature horses can effectively fight and survive Babesia equi infection.
Cite This Article
APA
Kuttler KL, Gipson CA, Goff WL, Johnson LW.
(1986).
Experimental Babesia equi infection in mature horses.
Am J Vet Res, 47(8), 1668-1670.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesiosis / immunology
- Babesiosis / physiopathology
- Complement Fixation Tests
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Male
- Orchiectomy
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Onzere CK, Hulbert M, Sears KP, Williams LBA, Fry LM. Tulathromycin and Diclazuril Lack Efficacy against Theileria haneyi, but Tulathromycin Is Not Associated with Adverse Clinical Effects in Six Treated Adult Horses. Pathogens 2023 Mar 14;12(3).
- Coultous RM, Sutton DGM, Boden LA. A risk assessment of equine piroplasmosis entry, exposure and consequences in the UK. Equine Vet J 2023 Mar;55(2):282-294.
- Sears KP, Knowles DP, Fry LM. Clinical Progression of Theileria haneyi in Splenectomized Horses Reveals Decreased Virulence Compared to Theileria equi. Pathogens 2022 Feb 16;11(2).
- Sears K, Knowles D, Dinkel K, Mshelia PW, Onzere C, Silva M, Fry L. Imidocarb Dipropionate Lacks Efficacy against Theileria haneyi and Fails to Consistently Clear Theileria equi in Horses Co-Infected with T. haneyi. Pathogens 2020 Dec 10;9(12).
- Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Levy H, Katz Y, Shtilman M, Gottlieb Y. Parasite load and genotype are associated with clinical outcome of piroplasm-infected equines in Israel. Parasit Vectors 2020 May 20;13(1):267.
- Hall CM, Busch JD, Scoles GA, Palma-Cagle KA, Ueti MW, Kappmeyer LS, Wagner DM. Genetic characterization of Theileria equi infecting horses in North America: evidence for a limited source of U.S. introductions. Parasit Vectors 2013 Feb 11;6:35.
- Holman PJ, Hietala SK, Kayashima LR, Olson D, Waghela SD, Wagner GG. Case report: field-acquired subclinical Babesia equi infection confirmed by in vitro culture. J Clin Microbiol 1997 Feb;35(2):474-6.
- Knowles DP Jr, Kappmeyer LS, Perryman LE. Specific immune responses are required to control parasitemia in Babesia equi infection. Infect Immun 1994 May;62(5):1909-13.
- Knowles DP Jr, Perryman LE, Goff WL, Miller CD, Harrington RD, Gorham JR. A monoclonal antibody defines a geographically conserved surface protein epitope of Babesia equi merozoites. Infect Immun 1991 Jul;59(7):2412-7.
- Onzere CK, Bastos RG, Bishop RP, Suarez CE, Fry LM. Expression of IL-10 and TGF-β1 in horses experimentally infected with T. equi merozoites is associated with antibody production but not modulation of pro-inflammatory responses. Front Immunol 2024;15:1370255.
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