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Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)2021; 10(3); 298; doi: 10.3390/pathogens10030298

First Case of Autochthonous Equine Theileriosis in Austria.

Abstract: A 23-year-old pregnant warmblood mare from Güssing, Eastern Austria, presented with apathy, anemia, fever, tachycardia and tachypnoea, and a severely elevated serum amyloid A concentration. The horse had a poor body condition and showed thoracic and pericardial effusions, and later dependent edema and icteric mucous membranes. Blood smear and molecular analyses revealed an infection with . Upon treatment with imidocarb diproprionate, the mare improved clinically, parasites were undetectable in blood smears, and 19 days after hospitalization the horse was discharged from hospital. However, 89 days after first hospitalization, the mare again presented to the hospital with an abortion, and the spleen of the aborted fetus was also PCR-positive for . On the pasture, where the horse had grazed, different developmental stages of ticks were collected and subjected to PCR, and one engorged specimen was positive for . All three amplicon sequences were identical ( genotype E). It is suspected that may repeatedly be transmitted in the area where the infected mare had grazed, and it could be shown that transmission to the fetus had occurred. Due to the chronic nature of equine theileriosis and the possible health implications of infection, it is advised to include this disease in the panel of differential diagnoses in horses with relevant clinical signs, including horses without travel disease, and to be aware of iatrogenic transmission from inapparent carrier animals.
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Publication Date: 2021-03-04 PubMed ID: 33806575PubMed Central: PMC7998884DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030298Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article reports on the first case of autochthonous equine theileriosis, a tick-borne disease, in a horse in Austria. The infected pregnant mare exhibited multiple symptoms, which were confirmed to be caused by Theileria equi; after treatment, the mare recovered, but after giving birth, the disease was found in the fetus. This discovery suggests that equine theileriosis could be repeatedly transmitted in the area, and should be considered in differential diagnoses in horses showing similar symptoms, including non-travelled horses, and caution should be taken with transmission from silent carriers.

Introduction to the Case Study

  • The article starts by narrating the condition of a 23-year-old pregnant warmblood mare in Austria. This horse showed multiple signs of ailment including lack of interest, tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), tachypnoea (abnormally rapid breathing), and a noticeably increased serum amyloid A concentration. Besides, the mare had poor physical wellness coupled with thoracic effusion (fluid around the lungs) and pericardial effusion (excess fluid that accumulates in the membranous sac around the heart).

The Diagnosis

  • An examination of the horse’s blood smear and further molecular analyses revealed the presence of Theileria equi, a protozoan parasite that causes Equine Theileriosis. Theileria equi is usually spread by ticks. This was the first reported case of a locally-acquired or autochthonous Theileriosis in Austria.
  • The messages that the mare gave were clinically ameliorated after being treated with the drug imidocarb diproprionate. Later, the blood smears showed no indication of parasites. Hence the horse was discharged after a 19-day hospitalization.

Re-emergence of Symptoms

  • However, 89 days after the first hospitalization, the mare miscarried. Intriguingly, the spleen of the aborted fetus tested positive for Theileria equi on analysis using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
  • Upon assessing the grazing area where this horse had been, different development stages of ticks were found. These were also tested using PCR. An engorged (blood-filled) tick from the batch was found to be positive for Theileria equi.
  • All three samples from the mare, fetus, and tick had identical sequences of the Theileria equi genotype E.

Implications and Conclusions

  • These observations suggest a probable repeated transmission of theileriosis in the grazing area where the infected mare had been. This includes a confirmed report of transmission to the fetus during gestation.
  • The authors recommend that due to the chronic nature of equine theileriosis and the possible implications for horse health, this disease should be included in the catalog of differential diagnoses for horses showing related clinical signs.
  • This suggestion is crucial not just for horses with a history of travel but also for those without such history. Practitioners and caretakers are also made aware of the potential iatrogenic (healthcare-associated) transmission from inapparent carrier animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Dirks E, de Heus P, Joachim A, Cavalleri JV, Schwendenwein I, Melchert M, Fuehrer HP. (2021). First Case of Autochthonous Equine Theileriosis in Austria. Pathogens, 10(3), 298. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10030298

Publication

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-0817
NlmUniqueID: 101596317
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
PII: 298

Researcher Affiliations

Dirks, Esther
  • Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, Department Hospital for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
de Heus, Phebe
  • Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, Department Hospital for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Joachim, Anja
  • Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Cavalleri, Jessika-M V
  • Clinical Unit of Equine Internal Medicine, Department Hospital for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Schwendenwein, Ilse
  • Clinical Pathology Platform, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Melchert, Maria
  • Centre for Insemination and Embryo transfer Platform, Department Hospital for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Fuehrer, Hans-Peter
  • Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Giubega S, Ilie MS, Luca I, Florea T, Dreghiciu C, Oprescu I, Morariu S, Dărăbuș G. Seroprevalence of Anti-Theileria equi Antibodies in Horses from Three Geographically Distinct Areas of Romania. Pathogens 2022 Jun 9;11(6).
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  2. Rar V, Marchenko V, Epikhina T, Tikunov A, Suntsova O, Kozlova I, Tikunova N. The first genetic study of Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, and Babesia occultans in Dermacentor spp. in Russian Siberia. Exp Appl Acarol 2025 Aug 21;95(3):33.
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