Piroplasmosis

Piroplasmosis



Basic Information image



Definition


Tickborne hemoprotozoan disease of horses, mules, and donkeys caused by Babesia equi and Babesia caballi; characterized by signs of acute hemolytic anemia commonly followed by an inapparent carrier status.



Synonym(s)


Equine babesiosis



Epidemiology



Species, Age, Sex


No predilection for sex, breed, or age, although horses in endemic countries become infected by 1 year of age.



Risk Factors




• Travel to endemic countries


• Exposure to horses or ticks from endemic countries


• Splenectomy



Contagion and Zoonosis




• Tickborne disease, transmitted primarily by Ixodid ticks but also by species of Rhipicephalus, Dermacentor, Boophilus, and Hyalomma.


• Not a zoonotic concern; no reports of human infection with the equine species of Babesia.



Geography and Seasonality




• Endemic in all countries in the world except Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, Japan, and the United States, although sporadic outbreaks from these countries have been reported. Recent outbreaks of disease in the United States threaten its classification as free of piroplasmosis.


• Occurrence of disease related only to presence of the appropriate tick vectors and the necessary climate for survival of the vector.


• Before 2009, only sporadic cases were identified in states with tropical climates, such as Florida and Texas. However, an outbreak involving more than 250 horses occurred in late 2009 involving Texas and New Mexico. Competent vectors were recovered, but the United States remains officially free of piroplasmosis.



Clinical Presentation



Disease Forms/Subtypes




• Clinical signs generally more severe for B. equi than B. caballi.


• Inapparent carrier:


image Most common form because infected horses commonly become carriers.

image Not related to natural resolution versus drug-induced recovery from acute disease.

image Low level of parasitemia and no clinical signs, although has been reported to reduce athletic performance as compared with uninfected individuals.

image Pregnant carrier mares can have late term abortions or stillbirths as a result of in utero infection.

image This form of the disease creates substantial economic impact on the import and export of horses around the world.

• Peracute form


image Observed in neonates infected in utero, in naive adults exposed to a large number of infected ticks, or in horses infected after strenuous exercise

image Poor prognosis

image Neonates exhibit progressive weakness, fever, anemia, and icterus; signs are consistent with neonatal isoerythrolysis.

image In adults, the capillaries and small vessels become occluded, and clinical signs are related to the affected organ system. Sudden death has been reported.

• Acute form: Clinical signs occur after incubation period of 12 to 19 days for B. equi and 10 to 30 days for B. caballi.


• Subacute form: Clinical signs are similar to acute form yet less progressive and more insidious in onset


• Chronic: Nonspecific clinical signs (of weight loss, depression, inappetence) consistent with other chronic inflammatory conditions or equine infectious anemia

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Jul 24, 2016 | Posted by in SMALL ANIMAL | Comments Off on Piroplasmosis

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