Equine piroplasmosis (EP), which is classified as a foreign animal disease, has made several appearances in the United States over the past few years, and it's causing concern at racetracks around the nation–the main locations at which EP has been diagnosed. But horse owners should be happy to know that their horses are likely not at risk for contracting the dangerous disease as long as their horses are being managed with industry-standard hygiene practices. Many of the EP cases diagnosed since 2008 were completely preventable, according to the panel members who presented during a special session on EP at the 2010 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 4-8 in Baltimore, Md.

The session, moderated by Josie Traub-Dargatz, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, a professor in the Animal Population Health Institute and the section of population health at Colorado State University, gave practitioners a timely in-depth review on EP and its impact on the American equine industry.

Equine piroplasmosis is spread through the transfer of blood; naturally, it is spread by certain species of ticks, however according to Traub-Dargatz it can also be spread by the reuse of needles, syringes, and other blood-contaminated equipment that has not been sanitized between uses. Two distinct agents cause the disease: the hemoprotozoas called Babesia caballi and B. equi. After a U.S. outbreak of the disease in the 1960s, extreme measures were taken to eradicate EP and the country was declared EP-free in 1988, said Traub-Dargatz