Abstract

CALDERON, Alfonso; CARDONA, José  and  VERGARA, Óscar. FREQUENCY OF Babesia spp. IN HORSES OF MONTERIA, CORDOBA (COLOMBIA). rev.udcaactual.divulg.cient. [online]. 2013, vol.16, n.2, pp.451-458. ISSN 0123-4226.

Equine babesiosis or equine piroplasmosis, disease transmitted to horses by ticks, is the main restriction of international horse mobilization. It is produced by the protozoa Babesia caballi or Theileria equi, which besides horses, affect mules, donkeys and zebras. Through a convenience sample, a cross sectional study was implemented and six stables in Monteria (Cordoba) were selected, taking 126 blood samples of horses (Equus ferus caballus), in which by hematocrit and staining by Wright's stain the frequency of babesiosis was determined. A 18.25% of the samples were positive for Babesia spp. Different variables such as feeding system, age, sex, color and race were analyzed and related to the frequency of positive Babesia spp. in horses. The general average of hematocrit was 34.2 ± 6.2% with a confidence interval (95%) of 33.1 at 35.2%. For seronegatives horses the average of the hematocrit was 34.5 ± 5.2% and for seropositive horses 32.9 ± 9.4%; no significant difference was found between these averages. In was determined that in the different horse management systems in Monteria cases of equine babesiosis are present and the need of a comprehensive vector control program has to be implemented.

Keywords : Equides; infection; piroplasmosis; Wright's stain.

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