Babesia caballi infection in a 6-month-old colt

Abstract

On the 15^th of August 2016, a 6-month-old colt weighing 118 kg was presented to the large animal clinic of Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. The colt showed clinical signs including fever, weakness, inappetence, anaemia, tachycardia, dyspnoea, rough hair coat, pale mucus membranes, lacrimation, ataxia and edematous swelling of distal limbs. Rhipicephalus eversti eversti ticks were detected on different parts of the colt’s body. Examination of peripheral blood smear showed Babesia caballi within the erythrocytes. Haematological analysis showed a decrease in red blood cell count, packed cell volume and haemoglobin concentration. Administration of imidocarb dipropionate and good nursing care yielded a successful result after two weeks of treatment. It is necessary to control ticks by regular use of acaricide and timely treatment of affected horses in order to reduce the devastating effects of this protozoan disease.

Keywords: Babesia caballi, Colt, Imidocarb dipropionate, Rhipicephalus eversti eversti