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Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 42(3), 2006, pp. 518-526
© Wildlife Disease Association  2006
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EQUINE PIROPLASMOSES AT THE REINTRODUCTION SITE OF THE PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE (EQUUS FERUS PRZEWALSKII) IN MONGOLIA

Simon R. Rüegg1,2, Paul R. Torgerson1,7, Marcus G. Doherr5, Peter Deplazes1, Reinhard Böse6, Nadia Robert2 and Christian Walzer3,4

1 Institute of Parasitology, University of Zürich, Winterthurstrasse 266A, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
2 Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Berne, Länggasstrasse 122A, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
3 Research Institute for Animal Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Savoyen Strasse 1, A-1160 Vienna, Austria
4 International Takhi Group, Takhin Tal, Mongolia
5 Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, PO Box, CH-3001 Berne, Switzerland
6 Labor Dr. Böse GmbH, Richthofenstraße 29, D-31137 Hildesheim, Germany
7 Corresponding author (email: paul.torgerson{at}access.unizh.ch)

ABSTRACT:   Piroplasmosis has been identified as a possible cause of mortality in reintroduced Przewalski’s horses (Equus ferus przewalskii) in the Dsungarian Gobi (Mongolia). A cross-sectional and a longitudinal study were conducted in a representative sample (n = 141) of the resident domestic horse population and in 23 Przewalski’s horses to assess the prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. Piroplasms were detected in blood by light microscopy in 6.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.6–12.2%) of the domestic horse samples. Antibody prevalence was 88.6% (95% CI: 82.4–92.9%) for T. equi and 75.2% (95% CI: 67.4–81.6%) for B. caballi. Antibody prevalence did not change over time, but antibody prevalence for both piroplasms were significantly lower in animals less than 1 yr of age. For both piroplasms, the prevalence of presumably maternal antibodies (falling titers) in foals was 100%. Only one of 16 foals seroconverted against T. equi during the study period, despite that piroplasms were found in two other individuals. The incidence density (ID) of T. equi in foals was therefore 0.0012 seroconversions per horse day (95% CI: 0.00029–0.0057). In contrast, yearlings had an ID of 0.0080 (95% CI: 0.0049–0.010) for T. equi and 0.0064 (95% CI: 0.0036–0.0093) for B. caballi, and in seven individuals piroplasms were detected. The seroprevalence of both piroplasms rose from 20% in spring to 100% in autumn. Comparison of domestic and Przewalski’s horses resulted in a standardized prevalence ratio (SPR) of 0.98 (95% CI: 0.80–1.24, not significant) for B. caballi; in contrast, the prevalence of T. equi in Przewalski’s horses was significantly lower than expected (SPR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.50–0.64).
  Key words:  Babesia caballi, epidemiology, Equus ferus przewalskii, Mongolia, Theileria equi.






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Copyright © 2006 by the Wildlife Disease Association.