Fourteen miniature donkeys (Equus asinus) in a mid-Michigan herd of 38 animals presented with clinical signs of besnoitiosis, including the presence of typical tissue cysts in the ocular sclera, the buccal and nasal mucosa, together with characteristic dermatitis in specific areas of the body. The common histopathological change seen was the presence of many 100–200-μm diameter, thick walled, typical Besnoitia sp. tissue cysts together with a chronic cellular response associated with degenerating cysts. Microscopy of isolated scleral cysts and skin biopsies showed the presence of protozoal organisms consistent in morphology with that of Besnoitia bennetti bradyzoites. Molecular analysis of these parasites indicates that they differ from previously described coccidia, including Besnoitia sp., from rabbits and opossums. Isolated cases of infection with this agent have been reported infrequently in equids; however, this is the first report of an outbreak in a herd of donkeys in the United States.
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August 2005
PATHOLOGY|
August 01 2005
AN OUTBREAK OF BESNOITIOSIS IN MINIATURE DONKEYS
Hany M. Elsheikha;
Hany M. Elsheikha
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. [email protected]
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Charles D. Mackenzie;
Charles D. Mackenzie
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. [email protected]
* Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, and Biological Imaging Center, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
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Benjamin M. Rosenthal;
Benjamin M. Rosenthal
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. [email protected]
† Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Building 1080, BARC-East, Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350
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Judith V. Marteniuk;
Judith V. Marteniuk
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. [email protected]
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Barbara Steficek;
Barbara Steficek
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. [email protected]
‡ Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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Sharon Windsor;
Sharon Windsor
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. [email protected]
§ 216N Meech Road, Dansville, Michigan 48819
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A. Mahdi Saeed;
A. Mahdi Saeed
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. [email protected]
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Linda S. Mansfield
Linda S. Mansfield
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824. [email protected]
‖ Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824
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J Parasitol (2005) 91 (4): 877–881.
Citation
Hany M. Elsheikha, Charles D. Mackenzie, Benjamin M. Rosenthal, Judith V. Marteniuk, Barbara Steficek, Sharon Windsor, A. Mahdi Saeed, Linda S. Mansfield; AN OUTBREAK OF BESNOITIOSIS IN MINIATURE DONKEYS. J Parasitol 1 August 2005; 91 (4): 877–881. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-3277.1
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