News from the Connecticut Department of Agriculture
State Veterinarian Mary Jane Lis MS, DVM, PhD

Equine Piroplasmosis found in Florida

On Wednesday August 13, 2008, the Florida State Veterinarian notified United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) that a horse in Manatee County, Florida, was positive for Babesia equi, or Equine Piroplasmosis. The horse presented with clinical signs, and the initial samples were taken by an accredited veterinarian and submitted to the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, where the presumptive positive results were reported. Upon notification to the Florida State Veterinarian and APHIS, a foreign animal disease (FAD) investigation was initiated, the horse and all other horses on the premises were placed under quarantine by Florida State authorities, and the clinical index horse was euthanized and necropsied. The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa has confirmed the Florida laboratory findings on the index horse.

The FAD investigation consists of testing contact horses on the original premises, where a total of 22 contact horses have been identified and tested. Initial tests found four additional horses on the original premises positive for Babesia equi. One note of concern is that the infection may have been spread from the index horse to other horses on the premises of origin through common needle use by personnel caring for the horses.

At least six additional premises have been identified as contact premises and are being scheduled for surveillance testing. Diagnostic testing, tick identification, and traceback procedures are ongoing, but are hampered by the severe weather conditions produced by Tropical Storm Fay. APHIS is assisting Florida state officials in these efforts.

The finding of Equine Piroplasmosis was reported to the OIE on August 15, 2008. (OIE stands for the Office International des Epizooties also known as the World Organization for Animal Health as of 2003, but continues to use its historical acronym OIE.) Chief Veterinary Officers for Mexico, Canada and the European Union have also been notified by APHIS. APHIS staff will work with trading partners to help minimize any potential impacts on the export of horses from the United States.

Background information on Equine Piroplasmosis can be found at: http://www.avma.org/reference/backgrounders/equine_piroplasmosis_bgnd.asp