A rare case report of active Babesia caballi infection in a mare from Gonbad-e-Kavus, Iran

Avarseji, Amirali; Jahromi, Farima; Pirali Hamedanee, Barsam; Mohammadparast, Soheil

doi:10.30466/vrf.2026.2070698.4898

A rare case report of active Babesia caballi infection in a mare from Gonbad-e-Kavus, Iran

Document Type : Clinical Report

Authors

Amirali Avarseji ¹

Farima Jahromi ²

Barsam Pirali Hamedanee ³

Soheil Mohammadparast ⁴

¹ Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

² Department of clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

³ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz Branch, Tabriz, Iran

10.30466/vrf.2026.2070698.4898

Abstract

Babesia caballi is a tick-borne protozoan parasite responsible for causing equine babesiosis, a disease with considerable variation in prevalence across different regions of the world. This report presented a confirmed case of B. caballi infection in a three-year-old mare originating from Gonbad-e Kavus, Iran, highlighting the clinical, laboratory and diagnostic aspects of the disease. The affected mare showed classical clinical signs including persistent fever, generalized weakness, tachycardia and pale mucous membranes, which are indicative of systemic infection and anemia. Laboratory evaluations revealed evidence of hepatic and renal compromise as well as hematological parameters consistent with active inflammatory processes. Microscopic examination of blood smears and molecular techniques such as PCR were employed to confirm the presence of B. caballi, while simultaneously excluding co-infections with other common equine pathogens including Theileria equi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. This case underscored the critical need to combine conventional diagnostic approaches with molecular methods to achieve accurate detection, effective treatment and appropriate management strategies for equine babesiosis in endemic regions.

Keywords

Babesia caballi

Equine

Mare