REGULAR FEATURE
DC
Doctor’s Corner
Equine Piroplasmosis
by Dave Sauter, DVM, Kulshan Veterinary Hospital
Controlling the spread of a highly infectious disease
E
quine Piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease. With the increased international move-
disease present in more than 90 percent of ment of horses and with endemic countries so
the world. Along with Australia, Canada, close, such as Mexico, Central and South America
England, Iceland, Ireland and Japan, the U.S. has and the Caribbean, the risk of reintroduction is
been classifi ed free of EP. There was an epidemic signifi cant.
of EP in Florida during the ‘60s after infected Since the recent outbreak in the United States,
horses had been imported from Cuba. It took over 1,500 horses have been tested. The outbreak
$12 million and more than 20 years of testing, originated in Texas, and as of the fi rst of this year,
quarantine, tick control and other measures to 289 horses from one Texas ranch tested positive.
eventually eradicate the disease declare the U.S. Forty-one more positive horses from this ranch
free of EP in 1988. Unfortunately, EP was detected had already moved to other ranches in Texas, and
again in the U.S. recently, causing renewed other horses from the ranch had moved out of
Dave Sauter, DVM
concern over the disease. state before the outbreak was detected, resulting
Cause and Symptoms
in two positives in Alabama, two in California,
Dave Sauter, DVM, a Minnesota
fi ve in Florida, one in Georgia, two in Indiana,
EP is an infectious disease caused by a proto-
native, graduated from the
fi ve in Louisiana, one in Minnesota, two in North
University of Minnesota in
zoan—a tiny unicellular animal—a classifi cation
Carolina, four in New Jersey, one in Tennessee,
1987. Following graduation
separate from bacteria and viruses. There are
one in Utah and one in Wisconsin.
he interned at Rood & Riddle
two species of protozoans that cause EP, Babesia
Hopefully, this new outbreak can be contained
Equine Hospital in Lexington, caballi and Theilertia equi. It is transmitted by
Kentucky. After this internship,
and the EP organisms will not become estab-
ticks or blood-contaminated needles or surgical
he continued to work
lished in the local tick populations. Our current
exclusively with horses for
instruments. After a horse is bitten by an
health certifi cate system for the shipment of
another fi ve years in Kentucky
infected tick, the organisms invade circulating
horses has so far contributed to prompt and
before moving out west to join
red blood cells, where they reproduce. It can take
accurate tracking of EP-exposed horses. Rapid
Kulshan Veterinary Hospital. He seven to 22 days for symptoms to develop. With
is a member of the AAEP, AVMA
location, notifi cation, containment and quaran-
microscopic unicellular animals reproducing on
and the WSVMA.
tine will reduce the chances of further spread of
the inside of red blood cells, it is not surprising
Outside of veterinary medicine,
the disease.
that these cells will be destroyed. Resulting red
David enjoys hiking, photog-
blood cell destruction can lead to symptoms such Controlling the Spread
raphy and spoiling his two
daughters.
as weakness, anemia and jaundice. Numerous This outbreak has resulted in new restrictions
other symptoms can occur, including rough hair in the movement of horses. Canada and several
Kulshan Veterinary Hospital’s
mission is to provide our
coats, elevated heart rates, elevated respiratory U.S. states have restricted the importation of
patients and clients with high
rates, red urine, weight loss, kidney failure and horses from Texas. Other states with positive cases
quality team-oriented veteri- colic. Mortality rates can be as high as 50 percent. may have restrictions placed on them as well. It is
nary care emphasizing respect,
Horses that survive the acute form of the disease good practice all the time to check with animal
dignity and compassion. We
can harbor the parasite for years, continuing health offi cials in Canada or the particular state of
strive to deliver this care in a
relaxed setting, combining ex-
to infect ticks that spread the disease to other destination ahead of time to ensure you meet all
ceptional customer service with
horses. There is no vaccine to prevent EP. Treat- entry requirements when shipping horses. More
modern veterinary medicine
ment requires potent medications that can have than one horse shipment rejected at the Canadian
and technology.
serious side effects. border has shown up at our clinic doorstep looking
We are committed to:
Containment
for help. They were forced to fi nd somewhere to
• Care and compassion
board their horses and go through a number
For more than 30 years, the U.S. has been
• Excellence
of extra hoops in order to meet the Canadian
requiring EP screening for all horses imported
• Integrity and respect requirements. These requirements may seem
into the country to prevent reintroduction of
For more information:
cumbersome, but they are understandable if they
the disease. Since we have not had the disease
Call 360-354-5095
can help prevent the introduction and spread of
in this country for so many years, our horses,
E-mail:
DrKulshan@msn.com
serious diseases such as Equine Piroplasmosis.
donkeys and mules will have no immunity and
Website:
www.KulshanVet.com
are extremely vulnerable to the acute form of the
NWHS
10 March 2010 The Northwest Horse Source
www.nwhorsesource.com
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