First Report of Acute Bilateral Hyphema in a Theileria equi-Infected Kathiawari Horse.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Acute Bilateral Hyphema Associated with Theileria equi Infection Theileria equi, a tick-borne haemoparasite endemic in many regions, typically manifests as fever, anaemia, and thrombocytopenia in affected equids; this case report documents an unusually severe ocular presentation in a 4-month-old Kathiawari filly that developed acute bilateral hyphema alongside systemic signs including icterus, tachycardia, and tachypnoea. Diagnosis was established through identification of the parasite on Giemsa-stained blood smears, with laboratory findings confirming significant anaemia and thrombocytopenia as contributing factors to the haemorrhagic manifestation. The bilateral anterior chamber haemorrhage—reported here as a novel clinical finding in T. equi infection—resolved following specific antiprotozoal therapy combined with supportive management. Although geographically limited in occurrence, this case expands our understanding of how T. equi can present atypically and carries implications for differential diagnosis in young horses presenting with unexplained bilateral ocular haemorrhage; practitioners in endemic areas should consider blood-borne parasites in their diagnostic framework and remain alert to the systemic nature of this infection.

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Key Findings

• •Acute bilateral hyphema is an atypical clinical manifestation of T. equi infection in equids, reported for the first time in this 4-month-old Kathiawari filly
• •Clinical presentation included fever, lethargy, icterus, tachycardia, tachypnea, and bilateral hyphema with concurrent anemia and thrombocytopenia
• •Diagnosis was confirmed via microscopic examination of Giemsa-stained blood smear
• •Specific and supportive therapy for T. equi resulted in remission of all clinical signs and laboratory abnormalities

Conditions Studied

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