A case of transplacental transmission of Theileria equi in a foal in Trinidad

Georges, Karla, Ezeokoli, Chuckwudozi, Sparagano, Olivier, Pargass, Indira, Campbell, Mervyn, D’Abadie, Roger and Yabsley, Michael (2011) A case of transplacental transmission of Theileria equi in a foal in Trinidad. Veterinary Parasitology, 175 (3-4). pp. 363-366. ISSN 0304-4017

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Abstract

Equine piroplasmosis due to Theileria equi and Babesia caballi is endemic in Trinidad. A case of equine piroplasmosis due to T. equi was diagnosed in a thoroughbred foal at 10 h post-partum. A high parasitaemia (63%) of piroplasms was observed in a Wright-Giemsa® stained thin blood smear from the foal. In addition, the 18S rRNA gene for Babesia/Theileria was amplified from DNA extracted from the blood of the foal and the mare. Amplified products were subjected to a reverse line blot hybridization assay (RLB), which confirmed the presence of T. equi DNA in the foal. The mare was negative by RLB but was positive for T. equi using a nested PCR and sequence analysis. In areas where equine piroplasmosis is endemic, severe jaundice in a post-partum foal may be easily misdiagnosed as neonatal isoerythrolysis. Foals with post-partum jaundice should be screened for equine piroplasmosis, which may be confirmed using molecular methods if available.

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