A SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY OF EQUINE PIROPLASMOSIS IN THE NORTHERN AND EASTERN CAPE PROVINCES OF SOUTH-AFRICA

Serum samples from yearling Thoroughbred horses (n = 176) in the magis terial districts of Colesberg, Venterstad, and Wodehouse in the Northe rn and Eastern Cape Provinces were collected between September and Nov ember 1995 to determine the prevalence of antibodies to Babesia equi a nd Babesia caballi in these regions. Samples were examined for specifi c antibodies using the indirect fluorescent antibody lest. The 95 % co nfidence intervals for the prevalence of serum antibodies in the 3 dis tricts combined varied from 47 % to 61 % for B. equi and from 26 % to 40 % for B. caballi. Antibody prevalence did not correlate with the kn own distributions of the tick vectors (Rhipicephalus evertsi evertsi a nd Hyalomma truncatum). Colts had a significantly higher prevalence of antibodies against B. caballi than fillies. No such difference could be determined for B. equi.