First report of Besnoitia bennetti in Irish donkeys: an emerging parasitic disease in Europe
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2024
Citazione:
First report of Besnoitia bennetti in Irish donkeys: an emerging parasitic disease in Europe / S.H. Tinkler, L. Villa, M.T. Manfredi, N. Walshe, H. Jahns. - In: IRISH VETERINARY JOURNAL. - ISSN 0368-0762. - 77:1(2024), pp. 2.1-2.12. [10.1186/s13620-024-00263-2]
Abstract:
Background This is the first report of Besnoitia bennetti in donkeys in Ireland. B. bennetti, an apicomplexan protozoan
parasite specific to equids, is an emerging pathogen in Europe. This parasite forms chronic intracytoplasmic cysts
in cells of the mesenchymal lineage, mainly fibroblasts, in the skin, sclera and mucosa. Clinical signs in affected equine
hosts vary from mild to severe debilitating disease. Little is known of the phylogeny, epidemiology or transmission
of B. bennetti infection in donkeys, mules or horses.
Case presentation Two cases of besnoitiosis in donkeys are presented. Both donkeys were born and raised in the-
Southwest of Ireland. The first case was a 2.5-year-old donkey that had a suspect sarcoid removed, while the second
case,a 2-year-old donkey, had a biopsy of nodular dermatitis of the muzzle. Diagnosis was made by histopathol-
ogy and the parasite species, B. bennetti, was confirmed by PCR followed by sequencing and microsatellite analysis.
Both donkeys had high antibody titres against Besnoitia spp. Small (0.5 mm) scleral, conjunctival and dermal cysts
over the muzzle were subsequently observed in both animals. Treatment with trimethoprim sulfadiazine for 30 days
did not lead to clinical resolution. The findings are compared to the cases of besnoitiosis in donkeys reported
in the past 10 years throughout Europe.
Conclusions Besnoitiosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for chronic skin disease particularly in cases
of cutaneous masses, non-pruritic dermatitis, and dermatitis that is not responsive to treatment in donkeys and other
equids. Future studies are needed to investigate the prevalence of the disease in Irish donkeys, the spread of the dis-
ease and the potential impact on the health and welfare of the donkeys.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Equus asinus; Parasite; Protozoa; Dermatitis; Emerging disease; Scleral cyst
Elenco autori:
S.H. Tinkler, L. Villa, M.T. Manfredi, N. Walshe, H. Jahns
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