A chronic and potentially debilitating parasitic equine
disease which causes cystic lesions in the skin and eyes, has been found in
donkeys in the UK for the first time.
The study was carried out by experts from the University of
Nottingham and the Donkey Sanctuary. A full report is published in the journal
Parasites and Vectors.
Equine besnoitiosis is a disease of donkeys, horses, zebra
and mules. Affected donkeys develop multiple nodules in the skin, over the
nostrils, ears and face. Cases may show tiny cysts on the surface of the eye.
Some infected animals remain otherwise healthy, while others become thin and
debilitated.
The condition has been identified in a
growing number of countries. The USA, Africa, Spain, Belgium, Italy,
and Portugal are among countries reporting cases in donkeys. In horses, it is found especially in the
tropics.
The disease is caused by Besnoitia bennetti, a protozoan parasite whose life
cycle is poorly understood.
The first UK case was identified in 2013, when a donkey at
the Donkey Sanctuary was presented with skin lumps. They were initially
presumed to be sarcoids, but microscopic examination revealed the presence of
cysts typical of those caused by Besnoitia bennetti, along with tissue changes
associated with sarcoids.
This case triggered a collaboration between a team of
clinicians from the Donkey Sanctuary and a veterinary parasitologist from the
School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham.
Since then 20 clinical cases of this emerging parasitic infection have been
identified and studied.
Other than one donkey that had come from Ireland, none of
the donkeys included in the study had been abroad.
Dr Rebekah Sullivan, co-author of the report and a vet at
the Donkey Sanctuary, said: “Given the relative proximity to other European
countries, where clinical besnoitiosis is apparent, our findings will inform
British vets of the potential for this emerging disease so that they can better
recognise the pattern of clinical signs during clinical examination.”
“It is absolutely
essential – particularly now – that vets in the UK learn more about
besnoitiosis, so they can identify and protect donkeys potentially at risk”
said Dr Hany Elsheikha, lead author of the study and Associate Professor of
Parasitology at the University of Nottingham. “Knowledge obtained in this study
should improve our response to this emerging parasitic disease in donkeys in
the UK, especially with the few treatment options and the unknown routes of
transmission.”
The research team also developed serological and molecular screening
methods, which allow earlier diagnosis of the disease.
Gereon Schares from the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal
Research Institute for Animal Health, Germany, and co-author of the
report, added: “This study is
particularly important because by using a suite of molecular methods we were
able to confirm for the first time in Europe that the parasite agent involved
in these cases is specifically Besnoitia bennetti and infection can be shown by
serological methods.”
The correct identification of Besnoitia cysts in skin
biopsies taken from UK allows veterinarians to give a more accurate prognosis.
“It can no longer be assumed that skin masses are either
neoplastic in origin or inflammatory, such as eosinophilic granulomas, for
example,” said George Paraschou, co-author and pathologist at the Donkey
Sanctuary.
For more details, see:
First record of besnoitiosis caused by Besnoitia bennetti in donkeys
from the UK
Hany M. Elsheikha, Gereon Schares, Georgios Paraschou, Rebekah Sullivan
and Richard Fox
Parasites Vectors (2020) 13:279
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