Tennessee Department of Agriculture reports Equine Piroplasmosis Detected in 17 Horses
August 12, 2016
Nashville, TN – The Tennessee veterinarian’s office is investigating an outbreak of Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) in a group of racing Quarter Horses in Tennessee.
EP is a blood parasite that affects equines. Although it can be transmitted through infected ticks, today it is more commonly spread by blood and blood products through the sharing of needles, syringes or improperly cleaned and disinfected dental, tattoo, surgical or blood product equipment between infected and uninfected horses.
Equine Piroplasmosis is an acute tick borne disease of Equids (horses, mules, donkeys, and zebras) with a greater than 50% mortality rate.
