A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control

Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by apicomplexan protozoan parasites, <i>Babesia caballi</i> and <i>Theileria equi</i>. The disease is responsible for serious economic losses to the equine industry. It principally affects donkeys, horses, mules, and ze...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: ThankGod E. Onyiche, Keisuke Suganuma, Ikuo Igarashi, Naoaki Yokoyama, Xuenan Xuan, Oriel Thekisoe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2019-05-01
Series:International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/10/1736
Description
Summary:Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by apicomplexan protozoan parasites, <i>Babesia caballi</i> and <i>Theileria equi</i>. The disease is responsible for serious economic losses to the equine industry. It principally affects donkeys, horses, mules, and zebra but DNA of the parasites has also been detected in dogs and camels raising doubt about their host specificity. The disease is endemic in tropical and temperate regions of the world where the competent tick vectors are prevalent. Infected equids remain carrier for life with <i>T. equi</i> infection, whilst, infection with <i>B. caballi</i> is cleared within a few years. This review focuses on all aspects of the disease from the historical overview, biology of the parasite, epidemiology of the disease (specifically highlighting other non-equine hosts, such as dogs and camels), vector, clinical manifestations, risk factors, immunology, genetic diversity, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
ISSN:1660-4601