Experimental Babesia equi infection in mature horses.

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.