This is the first report of Besnoitia bennetti in donkeys in Ireland. B. bennetti, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite specific to equids, is an emerging pathogen in Europe. This parasite forms chronic intracytoplasmic cysts in cells of the mesenchymal lineage, mainly fibroblasts, in the skin, sclera and mucosa. Clinical signs in affected equine hosts vary from mild to severe debilitating disease. Little is known of the phylogeny, epidemiology or transmission of B. bennetti infection in donkeys, mules or horses. Two cases of besnoitiosis in donkeys are presented. Both donkeys were born and raised in theSouthwest of Ireland. The first case was a 2.5-year-old donkey that had a suspect sarcoid removed, while the second case,a 2-year-old donkey, had a biopsy of nodular dermatitis of the muzzle. Diagnosis was made by histopathology and the parasite species, B. bennetti, was confirmed by PCR followed by sequencing and microsatellite analysis. Both donkeys had high antibody titres against Besnoitia spp. Small (0.5 mm) scleral, conjunctival and dermal cysts over the muzzle were subsequently observed in both animals. Treatment with trimethoprim sulfadiazine for 30 days did not lead to clinical resolution. The findings are compared to the cases of besnoitiosis in donkeys reported in the past 10 years throughout Europe. Besnoitiosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for chronic skin disease particularly in cases of cutaneous masses, non-pruritic dermatitis, and dermatitis that is not responsive to treatment in donkeys and other equids. Future studies are needed to investigate the prevalence of the disease in Irish donkeys, the spread of the disease and the potential impact on the health and welfare of the donkeys.

中文翻译：

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爱尔兰驴中 Besnoitia bennetti 的首次报告：一种欧洲新出现的寄生虫病

这是爱尔兰驴中 Besnoitia bennetti 的首次报告。 B. bennetti 是一种马科动物特有的顶端复门原生动物寄生虫，是欧洲的一种新兴病原体。这种寄生虫在皮肤、巩膜和粘膜的间充质谱系细胞（主要是成纤维细胞）中形成慢性胞浆内囊肿。受影响的马宿主的临床症状从轻微到严重的衰弱疾病不等。对于驴、骡或马中贝内蒂伯氏杆菌感染的系统发生、流行病学或传播知之甚少。介绍了两例驴的贝诺伊虫病病例。两只驴都在爱尔兰西南部出生和长大。第一个病例是一头 2.5 岁的驴，疑似结节病被切除，第二个病例是一头 2 岁的驴，活检结果为口吻结节性皮炎。通过组织病理学进行诊断，并通过 PCR、测序和微卫星分析确认寄生虫种类 B. bennetti。两只驴都具有针对 Besnoitia spp 的高抗体滴度。随后在两只动物的口吻上观察到小的（0.5毫米）巩膜、结膜和真皮囊肿。使用甲氧苄氨嘧啶磺胺嘧啶治疗 30 天并未导致临床缓解。研究结果与过去 10 年欧洲报告的驴贝诺伊虫病病例进行了比较。贝诺皮病应被视为慢性皮肤病的鉴别诊断，特别是在驴和其他马科动物的皮肤肿块、非瘙痒性皮炎和对治疗无反应的皮炎的情况下。未来的研究需要调查该疾病在爱尔兰驴中的流行情况、疾病的传播以及对驴健康和福利的潜在影响。