Equine piroplasmosis,
New Zealand

Information received on 16/06/2020 from Dr Tony Zohrab, , Policy and Trade Branch, Ministry for Primary Industries, Wellington , New Zealand

Summary

Report type	Follow-up report No. 3
Date of start of the event	22/04/2020
Date of confirmation of the event	22/05/2020
Report date	16/06/2020
Date submitted to OIE	16/06/2020
Reason for notification	First occurrence of a listed disease
Manifestation of disease	Sub-clinical infection
Causal agent	Theileria equi
Nature of diagnosis	Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to	the whole country
Related reports	Immediate notification (22/05/2020) Follow-up report No. 1 (29/05/2020) Follow-up report No. 2 (08/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 3 (16/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 4 (25/06/2020) Follow-up report No. 5 (03/07/2020) Follow-up report No. 6 (12/07/2020)

Outbreaks

There are no new outbreaks in this report

Epidemiology

Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection

Unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments

As part of routine testing for export a four-year-old mare tested positive on antibody ELISA for Theileria equi. The mare was previously imported into New Zealand in February 2019. While the horse met import testing requirements, preliminary investigations suggest that it was infected with T.equi when it was imported. The affected mare has been resident at two sites while present in New Zealand and has been moved to a separate isolation area. Transmission of equine piroplasmosis is primarily through a competent tick vector. New Zealand has no confirmed vectors for T.equi. For the period the mare has been resident in New Zealand all contact animals, where it is feasible for iatrogenic transmission (through blood) to occur, are being traced and tested. To date, no evidence of transmission of T.equi from the infected mare has been detected.

Control measures

Measures applied	Traceability Vaccination permitted (if a vaccine exists) No treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied	No other measures

Future Reporting

The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted.