Risk Management Proposal  
 
Equids [Piroplasmosis]   
LIVEQUID .GEN  
 
 
 
 
30 November 2021  Risk Management Proposal:  Equids [Piroplasmosis]  30 November 2021  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 1  
 
 
Disclaimer  
This risk management proposal does not constitute, and should not be regarded as, legal advice. While every 
effort has been made to ensure the information in this document is accurate, the Ministry for Primary Industries 
does not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for any error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion 
that may be present, however it may have occurred.  
© Crown Copyright - Ministry for Primary Industries  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contact for further information : 
Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)  
Biosecurity New Zealand  
Animal Imports  
PO Box 2526  
Wellington 6140  
Email: animal.imports@mpi.govt.nz  
Telephone:  04 890 0134  
  Risk Management Proposal:  Equids [Piroplasmosis]  30 November 2021  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 2  
Contents  
1 Purpose  3 
2 Background  3 
3 Objective  3 
4 Options assessment  3 
5 Current equine piroplasmosis requirements for imported horses  4 
5.1 Considerations for specific requirements for equine piroplasmosis  4 
Appendix 1 – Document History  7 
 
  
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 3 1 Purpose  
(1) The purpose of this document is to:  
a) Show how options for the management of risk o rganisms which cause  equine  piroplasmosis (EP) 
have been assessed.  
b) Provide recommendations for import requirements.  
2 Background  
(1) In 2020 a horse that had been imported into New Zealand was diagnose d as infected with Theileria equi. 
This horse was re -exported, and extensive surveillance was carried out which confirmed no transmission 
from that horse had occurred . New Zealand has no competent vectors and continues to declare freedom 
from EP. Following  this detection in June 2020 MPI made an urgent amendment to the requirements for 
equine piroplasmosis in the Import Health Standard (IHS): Horses . Prior to this the OIE Terrestrial  Animal 
Health Code  (the Code ) measures were required. Subsequently, MPI has published a Rapid Risk Analysis 
(RRA) for Eq uine Piroplasmosis . The  purpose of the RRA was to review the risk and propose additional 
risk mitigation options for equine piroplasmosis.  
(2) In accordance with MPI processes, the IHS contains generic import requirements. These requirements 
manage the biosecu rity risk of importing  horses . The generic IHS serves as the basis for country to 
country (bilateral) negotiations of country specific veterinary certificates. A guidance document will be 
issued by MPI and this will provide commodity specific guidance in formation including samples of country 
specific bilaterally agreed  veterinary certification for trade in  horses . 
(3) MPI will agree country specific veterinary certificates with the exporting country’s Competent Authority 
once MPI is satisfied with the expor ting country’s export systems. Negotiations will take into account the 
verifiable health status of the exporting country, the national systems, legislation and IHSs in the exporting 
country for regulatory oversight of the  horse  industry, and the capabili ties and preferences of the exporting 
country’s Competent Authority. The assessments will be based on the Code  section 3, Quality of 
Veterinary Services . 
3 Objective  
(1) The objective is to effectively manage biosecurity risks associated with the import of horses  consistent 
with New Zealand’s domestic legislation and international obligations.  
4 Options assessment  
(1) The World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on the Application  of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures 
(the SPS Agreement), Article 3.3, requires that risk management measures which provide a level of 
protection greater than provided by international standards may be imposed only when they can be 
scientifically justif ied on the basis of a risk assessment.  
(2) For a detailed analysis of potential hazards and their risks please refer to the supporting documents,  
Rapid Risk An alysis (RRA) for Equine Piroplasmosis  which contains the relevant risk assessment and an 
analysis of management option s. 
(3) The rapid risk assessment for equine piroplasmosis concluded that risk management measures were 
justified for equine piroplasmosis  in imported horses.   
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 4 5 Current  equine piroplasmosis requirements for  import ed 
horses  
(1) For equine piroplasmosis : 
a) The horses showed no clinical sign of equine piroplasmosis on the day of shipment.  
b)  The horses were kept since birth or for at least 30 days prior to export in a country:  
i) recognised by MPI as free from equine piroplasmosis  that does not import seropositive equids 
(with the exception of horses temporarily imported for competition purpose s), and  
ii) where no case of equine piroplasmosis has been reported in the 2 years prior to export, or  
c) The horses were:  
i) Tested for both Theileria equi  and Babesia caballi  using an indirect fluorescent antibody test 
(IFAT) and a competitive enzyme -linked imm unosorbent assay (cELISA ) as listed in 
Approved Diagnostic Tests, Vaccines, Treatments and Post -Arrival Testing Laboratories for 
Animal Import Health Stan dards, MPI -STD-TVTL  for both with negative results, during the 30 
days prior to export; or  
ii) Confirmed negative for equine piroplasmosis ( B. caballi  and T. equi ) by an OIE reference 
laboratory using both an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and comp etitive enzyme -
linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) as described in the  OIE Manual of Diagnostic Tests 
and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals (the Manual ) on a single serum sample taken during the 
30 days prior to export; and  
iii) Maintained free from ticks, by p reventive treatment when necessary, during the 30 days prior 
to export.  
5.1 Considerations for specific requirements for equine piroplasmosis  
(1) Equine piroplasmosis is an OIE listed disease caused by the tick -borne protozoa Theileria equi  and 
Babesia caballi. These organisms share many of the same tick vectors, and frequently co -infect horses. B. 
caballi and T. equi  are transmitted by certain ticks in the  genera Dermacentor, Hyalomma, and 
Rhipicephalus . T. equi  can also be transmitted by Boophilus microplus  and Ambylomma cajennense . 
Ticks serve as a reservoir for B. caballi  and horses are the only known reservoir for T. equi .  
(2) Since EP is  tick-borne it is  endemic  only where the tick vectors are found. Accordingl y, EP is present  in 
mostly tropical  and subtropical  areas , but also some temperate regions . Australia and New Zealand are 
both free from EP . None of the recognised tick vectors occur in New Zealand.  
(3) Acute i nfection results in clinical signs that are notice able. However, acute and chronic infections may also 
occur that are  subclinical, or horses may show  only mild clinical signs. Chronic infection is common , thus  
seropositive horses may be carrier s of piroplasmosis. There are no vaccines available or reliabl e 
treatments to eliminate the organism from infected equids.  
(4) Infected equids  represent a potential reservoir for maintenance and dissemination of parasites to ticks and 
other horses.  EP is a vector -borne disease. Accordingly, infected horses are not conta gious but iatrogenic 
spread between horses has been documented where  unhygienic practices  have  taken place involving an 
infected horse.  
(5) Accordingly, introducing exotic  tick species capable of transmitting EP would increase the likelihood of 
establishment o f EP here. Therefore, i t is important to prevent the introduction of both infected horses and 
ensure that they are free from ticks.  
(6) The Code  makes recommendations for the importation of equids including diagnostic testing for equine 
piroplasmosis with negative results shown and certified  as kept free from ticks during the 30 days prior to 
shipment. The tick -free period of 30 days is satisfacto ry, particularly when combined with diagnostic 
testing.   
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 5 (7) In regards diagnostic testing, the Manual  describes the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and the 
competitive enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA).  These  diagnostic tests are effective at 
detecting infected animals and those previously treated with antiparasitic drugs  since they are serological 
tests.  
(8) The IFAT is more sensitive for detecting T. equi antibodies at an earlier stage post-infection than the 
cELISA. Therefore, a combination of serological tests is recommended to show an animal is free from both 
acute and chronic infection.  
(9) However, at the very early time around tick inoculation of the organism  when  the horse becom es infect ed, 
this may  not register on the IFAT serological test  since  antibody levels may not be detect able. Therefore, 
for these very recently infected animals an agent detection method is needed.  This would provide back -up 
to keeping horses tick -free should an infective tick  have been present  but went un detected.  
(10) To confirm absence from infection in individual animals, the best approach is therefore, to use both 
serology and PCR . 
(11) For the eventuality of persistently infected carrier animals, the parasites may be sequestered in  organs 
such as spleen and bone marrow, while the parasites and their genetic materials are undetectable in the 
general circulation (Pitel et al., 2010; Ribeiro et al., 2013). Therefore, disclosing any previous treatments 
and PCR and serological tests are essential to determine whether an individual animal is free from 
infection (Manual updated May 2021 ). 
(12) The Code  makes recommendations  when importing horses. However , the Code  makes no distinction 
between importing horses from infected and free countries. The Code  recommends all imported horses 
regardless of country of origin are clinically well on the day of shipment, tested negative and kept tick free 
30 days prior to importation.  
(13) Additional to the Code ’s recommendations a certification of country freedom  option could also be 
considered . This would only be relevant for countries that can prove freedom from EP in their horse 
population with protective import policies in place to protect their free country status. Should these 
conditions be met to MPI’s satisfaction, such countries would not require  diagnostic testing  to be carried 
out. 
(14) Accordingly, the recommendations below are for importing equids either from EP infected countries, or 
countries that are recognised by MPI as free  from EP.  
(15) The RRA proposed options are differe nt to the Code’s recommendations in regard to the testing protocol.  
A combination of serological tests or a PCR assay and serological test were proposed.  
5.1.1 Options presented in the RRA Equine Piroplasmosis:  
Option 1 
(1) The horses were kept since birth or for at least 30 days prior to export in a country:  
a) where equine piroplasmosis is a notifiable disease  
b) recognised by MPI as free from equine piroplasmosis  
c) that does not import seropositive equids (with the exception of horses temporarily  imported for 
competition purposes).  
Option 2  
(2) The horses were:  
a) showing no clinical sign of equine piroplasmosis on the day of shipment  
b) tested for both T. equi  and B. caballi  using an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and a 
comp etitive enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA), on a single serum sample, as listed in 
MPI-STD-TVTL , both with negative results, during the 30 days prior to export  
c) the horses did not have a positive result to any test for equine piroplasmosis ( T. equi  or B. caballi ) 
during the 12 months prior to export to New Zealand   
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 6 d) not treated with imidocarb dipropionate, or other anti -babesial agents active against B. caballi  or T. 
equi, during the 12 months prior to export  
e) maintained free from ticks by preventive treatment, during the 60 days prior to export  
f) there has been no opportunity for iatrogenic transmission, during the 60 days prior to export.  
Option 3  
(3) The horses were:  
a) showing no clinical sign of equine piroplasmosis on the day of shipment  
b) tested for both T. equi  and B. caballi  using a competitive enzyme -linked immunosorbent    
assay (cELISA) and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay on a single blood sample, as listed in 
MPI-STD-TVTL , both with negative results, during the 30 days  prior to export  
c) the horses did not have a positive result to any test for equine piroplasmosis ( T. equi  or B. caballi ) 
during the 12 months prior to export to New Zealand  
d) not treated with imidocarb dipropionate, or other anti -babesial agents active agains t B. caballi  or T. 
equi, during the 12 months prior to export  
e) maintained free from ticks by preventive treatment during the 60 days prior to export  
f) there has been no opportunity for iatrogenic transmission, during the 30 days prior to export  
5.1.2 Recommendation s for equine piroplasmosis  
(1) When importing equids from counties recognised by MPI as free from equine piroplasmosis:  
a) equine piroplasmosis must be a notifiable disease in the country of origin  
b) the country does not import seropositive equids (apart from hors es temporarily imported for 
competition purposes)  
c) equids are showing no clinical sign of equine piroplasmosis on the day of shipment . 
(2) When importing from EP infected countries equids must be:  
 
a) tested for both T. equi and B. caballi using an indirect fluor escent antibody test (IFAT) , a competitive 
enzyme -linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) , and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ass ay on a 
single serum sample, as listed in MPI-STD-TVTL , all with negative results, during the 30 days prior 
to export  
b) the equids  did not have a positive result to T. equi or B. caballi  during the 12 months prior to export 
to New Zealand  
c) have not been treated with imidocarb dipropionate, or any other anti -babesial agents active against 
B. caballi or T. equi , during the 12 months pr ior to export  
d)  maintained free from ticks by preventive treatment, during the 30 days prior to export.  
 
 
 
 
   
Ministry for Primary Industries   Page 7 Appendix 1 – Document History  
Date First Issued  Title Shortcode  
30 November 2021  
External Consultation  Risk Management Proposal: Equids 
[Piroplasmosis]  LIVEQUID.GEN  
Date of Issued 
Amendments  Title Shortcode