title: Transplacental transmission of Babesia equi (Theileria equi) from carrier mares to foals.
abstract: This article communicates the first per-acute and fatal clinical report of transplacental transmission of Theileria equi from carrier mothers to foals from Punjab, India. Two cases of equine piroplasmosis due to T. equi were diagnosed in neonatal foals borne to Throughbred mares. High degree of parasitemia with annular and maltese cross shaped parasites in erythrocytes was seen in both cases. Blood cellular changes revealed leucopenia and neutropenia with mild degenerative left shift. Anaemia was macrocytic normochromic type. Intense yellow discoloration of mucous membranes indicated jaundice. In areas endemic for equine piroplasmosis, jaundice in neonatal foal can be easily misdiagnosed as neonatal isoerythrolysis. Foals with post-partum jaundice should always be screened for equine piroplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ethics and Jurisprudence, College of Veterinary Sciences, GADVASU, Ludhiana, 141004 Punjab India.
authors.forename: Sushma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chhabra
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ranjan
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Uppal
authors.forename: L D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Singla
keywords: Babesiosis; Equine; Foal; Theileria equi; Transplacental-transmission
references.citation: Vet Rec. 2004 Mar 27;154(13):406-8
references.pmid: 15083978
references.citation: Trop Anim Health Prod. 2010 Apr;42(4):551-3
references.pmid: 19816783
references.citation: Jpn J Vet Res. 2009 Feb;56(4):171-80
references.pmid: 19358444
references.citation: Parasitol Res. 1998 Jun;84(6):467-75
references.pmid: 9660136
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 2007 Sep 1;148(2):130-6
references.pmid: 17601669
references.citation: Br Vet J. 1992 Jan-Feb;148(1):6-14
references.pmid: 1551016
references.citation: Vet Parasitol. 2011 Feb 10;175(3-4):363-6
references.pmid: 21051152