Piroplasmosis equina: Epidemiología molecular de Theileria equi y  Babesia caballi en caballos de trabajo de Gobernador Virasoro, Corrientes, Argentina

Daniel Francisco Benítez; Sabrina Ganzinelli; Sergio Lobayan; Leonhard Schnittger; Javier Hernán Schapiro

doi:10.30972/vet.3719058

Authors

Daniel Francisco Benítez EEA INTA Mercedes, Corrientes, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3379-4332
Sabrina Ganzinelli Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (IPVET), Unidad de Doble Dependencia, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Hurlingham B1686, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9889-6698
Sergio Lobayan Instituto de Investigación en Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Veterinarias, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6208-8136
Leonhard Schnittger Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (IPVET), Unidad de Doble Dependencia, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Hurlingham B1686, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3484-5370
Javier Hernán Schapiro Instituto de Patobiología Veterinaria (IPVET), Unidad de Doble Dependencia, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Hurlingham B1686, Argentina. Instituto de Investigación en Veterinaria, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Veterinarias, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7103-2105

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30972/vet.3719058

Keywords:

piroplasmids, hemoparasites, PCR, parasitemia, equine theileriosis, equine babesiosis

Abstract

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, intraerythrocytic protozoa transmitted by ticks. In Argentina, EP is endemic in the northeast, negatively affecting equine health and economic productivity. Nevertheless, infected animals generally appear as asymptomatic carriers. This study evaluated the infection rate of T. equi and B. caballi in working horses (n = 98). Blood smears from all animals were prepared and examined microscopically, followed by direct parasite detection using diagnostic PCR. No parasites were detected in the examined smears. However, 52 horses tested positive for T. equi (53.1%) by PCR. Three age categories were compared, revealing infection rates of 55.6% (15/27) in 1–3-year-old horses, 55.4% (31/56) in horses aged 4–10 years, and 40% (6/15) in horses older than 10 years. Notably, the infection rates across age categories did not differ significantly (p = 0.55). Considering that older animals have longer exposure to ticks, a higher infection rate in these groups might have been expected. Additionally, no significant association was found between infection status and the sex (p = 0.46). All horses tested negative for B. caballi by PCR. Clinical examination revealed good general condition and absence of ectoparasites, except for a single specimen of Rhipicephalus microplus found in one horse. The high rate of T. equi infection in the studied horses in this region underscore the need for improved control measures, treatment strategies, and the development of more sensitive diagnostic tools.

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