Seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection in Turkoman breed horses in Iran

Equine babesiosis is a hemoprotozoan tickborne disease with worldwide distribution and caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of T. equi and B. caballi infection in Turkoman breed horses in North Khorasan Province of Iran. Blood samples were collected from 100 apparently healthy horses and examined by microscopy and indirect immunofluorescent antibody test. T. equi was microscopically detected in five blood smears. Antibodies against T. equi, B. caballi and dual infection were found in 48 (48%), 2 (2%) and 3 (3%) serum samples, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the seroprevalence of piroplasm infection with risk factors such as age, gender and activity in horses. This is the first report of detection of T. equi and B. caballi infection using IFAT in Iran. It was concluded that the seroprevalence of T. equi infection is higher than B. caballi infection in Turkoman breed horse in Iran.