In vitro isolation of equine piroplasms derived from Cape Mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) in South Africa

Twenty blood samples of zebras (Equus zebra zebra) from the Karoo National Park and the Bontebok National Park in South Africa, all seropositive for Theileria equi, were subjected to in vitro culture to identify carrier animals and to isolate the parasites. Sixteen animals had a detectable parasitaemia in Giemsa-stained blood smears examined before culture initiation, the remaining four animals were identified as T. equi carriers by in vitro culture. Cultures were initiated either in an oxygen-reduced gas mixture or in a 5% CO2-in-air atmosphere. Out of the 20 blood samples, 12 cultures of T. equi and two cultures of T. equi mixed with Babesia caballi were established. None of the four animals seropositive for B. caballi could be identified as carrier animals, whereas two seronegative samples became culture-positive for B. caballi.