@article{1236,
  keywords = {equine piroplasmosis, Babesia caballi, acute renal failure, nested PCR, cELISA},
  author = {M Adam and J Pikalo and A Snyder and A Steinrigl and G Köller and G Schusser},
  title = {Equine Piroplasmosis – a case of severe Babesia caballi infection associated with acute renal failure},
  abstract = {A 14 year-old gelding was diagnosed with acute equine piroplasmosis caused by Babesia (B.) caballi infection using IFAT, microscopy and nested PCR. The horse was presented with a high fever (40.8°C), apathy and inappetence. Clinical examination revealed tachycardia (96 beats/min), tachypnoea (20 breaths/min), icteric mucous membranes, and sternal and preputial oedema. Blood tests showed moderate anaemia and thrombocytopaenia, severe azotaemia and increased plasma free haemoglobin. Urinary tests revealed a highly decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and an increased gamma-GT:creatinine ratio indicating acute renal failure. Intraerythrocytic merozoites of  B. caballi were detected in the blood smear. The patient was treated with imidocarb dipropionate (Carbesia®) for B. caballi infection and dopamine to correct the GFR. However, the horse continued to deteriorate and the animal’s owner decided to euthanize before the second dose of Carbesia. The necropsy revealed acute renal failure, which was caused mainly by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, in addition to moderate inflammatory signs in the brain, liver and myocardium. B. caballi can cause severe multiple organ dysfunction, and parameters such as plasma-free haemoglobin, urinary GFR and gamma-GT:creatinine ratio could be helpful indicators of an upcoming renal problem in horses.},
  year = {2016},
  journal = {Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift},
  volume = {129},
  edition = {3/4},
  month = {11/2016},
  publisher = {Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG},
  address = {Hannover},
  issn = {0005-9366},
  doi = {10.2376/0005-9366-16064},
  language = {English},
}