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Equine Piroplasmosis has been identified in horses in New Mexico, Texas and North Carolina. The New Mexico Livestock Board in cooperation with the New Mexico Racing Commission has entered into a proactive program to protect the New Mexico Racing industry as well as the New Mexico exhibition and breeding industry from the introduction of Equine Piroplasmosis into the New Mexico Equine industry.
Currently all horses entering New Mexico from Texas are required to present a negative Equine Piroplasmosis test. In addition all horses entering a New Mexico race track are required to show evidence of a negative Equine Piroplasmosis test.
Online reference available for equine import requirements for each state:
You are encouraged to plan ahead and check the import requirements of the state to which you are sending horses as they may change from time to time.
A list of states and their entry requirements can be found at www.globalvetlink.com/regulations.
Because no reference is correct at all times, it is advisable to check directly with the state animal health official at the point of destination for the most up-to-date requirements before traveling.
Horses considered High risk are:
- Texas horses from quarantined counties and those exposed to infected horses..
- Horses exposed to unapproved medications containing equine serum or blood
- Imported horses from countries with Equine Piroplasmosis.
All racing horses are being tested prior to being allowed to race, therefore there should not be any interruption of the racing schedule.
Equine Piroplasmosis is a blood parasite of horses, the disease causes blood loss anemia, debilitation, and death in some cases. Equine Piroplasmosis is primarily transmitted by certain species of ticks. In addition mechanical vectors of the disease such as biting insects, needles, tattoo instruments, contaminated serum and blood products are capable of transmitting the disease. The current Texas outbreak appears to be tick transmitted.
The United States has been considered free of Equine Piroplasmosis since the mid 1980’s. The free status was reached after the expenditure of well over 12 million dollars of State. Federal and industry dollars to eliminate the parasite from Florida.
During the last two years outbreaks have occurred in Florida, Missouri and Kansas. These outbreaks have been traced to high risk horse racing on non-sanctioned race tracks.
A sero-prevalence study recently conducted by USDA shows that a low level of Equine Piroplasmosis does exist in the United States.
It appears that the testing procedures to clear horses for import from Equine Piroplasmosis countries has allowed infected horses to enter the United States.
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