Equine piroplasmosis: An updated review

Summary Equine piroplasmosis ( EP ) is a tick‐borne protozoal disease. The causative agents are B abesia caballi and T heileria equi . Horses infected with T . equi remain carriers for life. Iatrogenic means can also be factors for transmission. Typical clinical signs of acute EP can include fever, anorexia, anaemia, icterus, congested mucous membranes, tachypnoea and tachycardia, sweating, and limb and supraorbital oedema. In severe cases, haemoglobinuria and bilirubinuria are present as well as a variety of atypical presentations due to organ damage and dysfunction. Because clinical pathology is not specific of EP , accurate diagnosis requires specific diagnostic tests. The value and the pertinence of blood smears, polymerase chain reaction and serological tests are presented. Imidocarb propionate is considered as the drug of choice against EP . However, treatment strategies differ greatly between endemic and nonendemic regions. In endemic regions the goal is to reduce clinical disease because premunition plays an important role in the protection of horses, while in nonendemic regions the goal of treatment is to eliminate the risk of transmission with sterilising treatment protocols. As there is no effective vaccine available to date, prevention relies mainly on drug therapy, restriction in the movement of infected horses, and control of tick vectors.