This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Diseases of Horses » Cardiovascular, Blood, and Immune System » Piroplasmosis In Horses »
  Discussion on Research Summary: Treating and testing for Piroplasmosis (Babesia) in question
Author Message
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 10:40 am:

Well we thought we had a handle on at least Babesia caballi, if not B. equi, infections in horses. The problem is that this chronic infection of horses in subtropical and tropical areas of the world prevent movement to many countries. It was believed that treatment and testing was a safe way to clear horses of B. caballi (but not B. equi) and get them moved. This reports brings these assumptions into question. For more on this see Piroplasmosis In Horses by clicking on the navigation bar above.
DrO


Vet Parasitol. 2007 Nov 17;

Repeated high dose imidocarb dipropionate treatment did not eliminate Babesia caballi from naturally infected horses as determined by PCR-reverse line blot hybridization.

Butler CM, Nijhof AM, van der Kolk JH, de Haseth OB, Taoufik A, Jongejan F, Houwers DJ.

Department of Equine Sciences, Medicine Section, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.153, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Imidocarb treatment of horses infected with Babesia caballi is supposed to eliminate the infection, but data on the efficacy of this treatment is scarce. The study presented here concerns four Paso Fino horses, which were imported into the island of Curacao on the basis of a piroplasmosis negative complement fixation test (CFT). Upon re-testing with an indirect fluorescent antibody test immediately after arrival in Curacao, two horses appeared to have antibodies to B. caballi and all horses had antibodies to Theileria equi. Subsequent testing with polymerase chain reaction combined with a reverse line blot yielded positive results for both agents in all four horses. Treatment with five consecutive doses of imidocarb dipropionate (4.7mg/kg BW im q 72h), temporarily resulted in negative results, but B. caballi and T. equi were detected again in the samples taken at 6 and 18 weeks after completion of the treatment. These results confirm that the CFT is not a suitable test for pre-import testing and that even high dose treatment with imidocarb may not be capable of eliminating B. caballi and T. equi infections from healthy carriers.
Member:
ekaufman

Posted on Monday, Jan 21, 2008 - 11:26 am:

Dr. O,

I think this means that our tests can't tell the difference between a non-exposed horse, and an exposed horse temporarily responding to treatment. Is that correct?


For those of us who have imported horses from piro-prevalent countries, relying on these tests, do you have any suggestions? I have 4 mares to whom this would apply. Should we re-test our horses on the farm? Wait until the Feds force us to do so?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2008 - 6:40 am:

Concerning the CFT in this study you would be correct but it depends on the test Elizabeth. For more on each of the tests and their significance see the diagnosis subtopic in the article.
DrO
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC