Butler C M, van Gils J A M, van der Kolk J H
Hoofdafdeling Gezondheidszorg Paard, Discipline Inwendige Ziekten, Faculteit der Diergeneeskunde, Universiteit Utrecht, Yalelaan 16, 3508 TD Utrecht.
Tijdschr Diergeneeskd. 2005 Dec 1;130(23):726-31.
Piroplasmosis, a disease endemic to most tropical and subtropical areas, appears to be spreading to more temperate zones. This article gives a review of equine piroplasmosis and describes an acute case of infection with Babesia caballi in a Dutch Standard bred foal after a short stay at a stud in Normandy (France). A 3-month-old stallion foal was presented with lethargy, fever of 41 degrees C, and pale mucosal membranes. Haematology revealed a low packed cell volume (14 l/l) leucytosis (25 G/l) and a high blood urea nitrogen concentration (20.1mmol/l). Infection with B. caballi was diagnosed on the basis of Giemsa staining blood smears and was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction in combination with RLB. Treatment with imidocarb dipropionate and a blood transfusion resolved the haemolytic crisis.
