Abstract

Besnoitiosis is "a protozoan disease of the skin, subcutis, blood vessels, mucous membranes, and other tissues" of animals. It "is endemic in tropical and sub-tropical regions with high infection rate but low mortality"; however, it is rare in other regions.

The causative organisms of the cutaneous disease, and the affected animals include:

- "Besnoitia besnoiti" in cattle (swelling of the lymph nodes, subcutaneous swellings, diarrhea, abortion and infertility)

- "Besnoitia bennetti" in horses and donkeys (characterized by a widespread, serious dermatitis)

- "Besnoitia jellisoni" and "B. wallacei" in rodents

- "Besnoitia tarandi" in reindeer and caribou

- "Besnoitia darlingi" in lizards, opossums, and snakes

- "Besnoitia sauriana" in lizards

- Viscerotropic strains of "B.besnoiti" in African antelope

- An unidentified "Besnoitia" species in goats in Iran, New Zealand, and Kenya