title: Outbreak of equine piroplasmosis in Florida.
abstract: METHODS
  A 7-year-old Quarter Horse gelding was hospitalized in Ocala, Fla, because of lethargy, fever, anorexia, and swelling of distal aspects of the limbs. A tentative diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis (EP) was made on the basis of examination of a blood smear. The case was reported to the Florida State Veterinarian, and infection with Babesia equi was confirmed. The subsequent investigation included quarantine and testing of potentially exposed horses for B equi and Babesia caballi infections, tick surveillance, and owner-agent interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  210 horses on 25 premises were tested for infection with EP pathogens. Twenty B equi-infected horses on 7 premises were identified; no horses tested positive for B caballi. Seven horses, including the index case, had clinical findings consistent with EP Dermacentor variabilis was considered the only potential tick vector for B equi collected, and all D variabilis specimens tested negative for Babesia organisms via PCR assay. Results of the epidemiological investigation suggested that B equi was spread by use of shared needles and possibly blood transfusions. All horses that tested positive were involved in nonsanctioned Quarter Horse racing, and management practices were thought to pose substantial risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Final outcome of B equi-infected horses was euthanasia, death from undetermined causes, or shipment to a US federal research facility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This investigation highlights the importance of collaboration between private veterinary practitioners, state veterinary diagnostic laboratories, and regulatory officials in the recognition, containment, and eradication of foreign animal disease.
authors.affiliation: Division of Animal Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 407 S Calhoun St, Mayo Building, Tallahassee, FL 32399, USA. Michael.Short@FreshFromFlorida.com
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: Carol K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.forename: Nanny
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wenzlow
authors.forename: Ian K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Allred
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Corn
authors.forename: Juanita F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Grause
authors.forename: Steven G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hennager
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.forename: Josie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Traub-Dargatz
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001403:Babesia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male