Cornell Univeristy Begins to Fight Donkey Besnoitiosis

First diagnosed in Africa, a rare new disease is cropping up in American donkey herds. It's called besnoitiosis. Although in Africa it appears in several mammal species, including horses, it is appearing more and more in donkeys in the American Northwest and Northeast. So far, no vaccine is available. Treatment is still a head-scratcher. It is also unknown how the disease spreads from one animal to another.

Cornell University hopes to change all that. They are asking American donkey owners that have sick donkeys or even if they suspect that their donkeys have besnoitiosis to send blood and tissue samples to the University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Contact the University to make arrangements before sending samples. Email san56@cornell.edu or phone 607-253-3100.

About Besnoitiosis

It is known that besnoitiosis is caused by a single-celled microscopic creature called a protozoan called Besnoitia tarandi. In Africa, these protozoans grow from eggs accidentally eaten by herbivorous mammals like deer or zebra. In British Columbia, they have been found in caribou and mule deer. In Europe, cattle are affected. The eggs mature in the digestive system and reproduce. This reproduction causes eggs to be shed with the animal's stool.

Just how the donkeys are getting infected is unclear, although the domestic cat is considered a host, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.

It could be that biting insects like flies or ticks may transmit the protozoan. This is something that still needs to be determined.

Once infected, a donkey begins growing lots of little white cysts all over the body - even inside of the donkey's throat, internal organs or eyes. Lymph nodes and joints may become swollen. The skin may become thick and itch. Donkeys may develop bald patches and diarrhea. Animals can die from secondary complications such as pneumonia or starvation from damage to their digestive tracts.

The Big Danger

There is a vaccine for cattle, but not for donkeys or horses. Because of the sudden appearance and gradual increase in cases, the horse industry may become decimated. Infected cattle have been known to become sterile. It is unknown if donkeys or horses could also become sterile. It is known that a nursing female donkey with the disease could not make enough milk for her foal.

The big fear is that the disease could jump to horses, including Thoroughbreds and Standardbred racehorses and breeding stock. Besnoitiosis could wipe out entire stud farms unless a vaccine or a treatment is found. But the disease is moving somewhat slowly. It is thought to have been introduced to America through two donkeys imported to America about 2003. Although the disease may never jump to horses, Cornell does not want to take any chances and learn about this disease now.

References

The Horse.com. "Samples Sought For Donkey Besnoitiosis Research." Erica Larson. February 16, 2012. http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=19612

The Horse.com. "Besnotiosis in Donkeys." Erica Larson. February 9, 2012. http://www.thehorse.com/viewarticle.aspx?ID=19570