Vol. 9, Issue 10, Part B (2025)

Theileria equi (Babesia equi) and Babesia caballi are the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis, a hemoprotozoan disease spread by ticks. T. equi is more pathogenic than B. caballi and can establish lifelong latent infections in recovered animals, making eradication challenging. Transmission occurs primarily through ixodid ticks such as Hyalomma anatolicum, Rhipicephalus microplus, and Haemaphysalis spp. The majority of early diagnosis of T. equi in India were made via traditional blood smear examination, however clinical cases are regularly recorded. The horse in this study had an acute T. equi infection and showed clinical symptoms such as fever, anaemia, oedema, haemoglobinuria, icterus, depression, and anorexia. The animal had icteric mucous membranes, a fever (104°F), and ventral abdominal oedema, according thorough physical and clinical investigations. The results of a thin blood smear made from capillary blood drawn from the tip of the ear showed that Babesia spp. A 595 bp amplification product was obtained via PCR targeting the T. equi-specific EMA1 gene, which was used to confirm the species' identity and the molecular presence of T. equi. Diminazene aceturate (Berenil) was given intramuscularly once to the afflected horse at a dose of 5 mg/kg. Over the course of three days, the patient received supportive care in the form of vitamin B-complex, meloxicam, Ringer's lactate, intravenous dextrose normal saline, and oral hematinics.