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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasitol Res / A comparative study of serological tests and PCR for the dia...
Parasitology research2009; 106(3); 709-713; doi: 10.1007/s00436-009-1669-5

A comparative study of serological tests and PCR for the diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis.

Abstract: A total of 105 serum samples from endurance horses from different stables in Dubai were examined for the presence of antibodies against Theileria equi and Babesia caballi using immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). A TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect DNA of piroplasms in specimens of clotted blood or EDTA blood samples of the same animals. Out of the 105 serum samples, the IFAT detected antibodies against T. equi in 35 (33.3%) cases while the cELISA gave 34 (32.4%) positive results. Eleven (10.5%) of the 105 sera were positive in the B. caballi IFAT while an additional five (4.8%) other specimens were diagnosed positive using the cELISA. The serological results showed that 13 (12.4%) horses had antibodies against both T. equi and B. caballi. The TaqMan real-time PCR detected DNA of piroplams in 33 (31.4%) samples while serological methods found antibodies in 38 (36.2%) horses.
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Publication Date: 2009-11-06 PubMed ID: 19894063DOI: 10.1007/s00436-009-1669-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The article summarizes a study comparing different methods of diagnosing equine piroplasmosis in horses. In particular, it compares the accuracy of serological tests and PCR in detecting antibodies against Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horse samples from endurance stables in Dubai.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study aimed at comparing the efficacy of immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT), competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA), and TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for diagnosing equine piroplasmosis.
  • The researchers examined 105 serum samples from endurance horses in different stables in Dubai.
  • IFAT and cELISA were used to detect the presence of antibodies against Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, while TaqMan real-time PCR was used to find DNA of piroplasms in clotted blood or EDTA blood samples from the same animals.

Results

  • Out of the 105 serum samples, IFAT detected antibodies against T. equi in 33.3% of the cases, while cELISA gave positive results in 32.4% of cases.
  • Babesia caballi detection rate was slightly lower, with IFAT and cELISA giving positive results in 10.5% and 4.8% of the cases, respectively.
  • The serological results indicated that 12.4% of the horses had antibodies against both T. equi and B. caballi.
  • The TaqMan real-time PCR detected DNA of piroplams in 31.4% of the samples, while serological methods found antibodies in 36.2% of the horses.

Interpretation

  • The study provides essential insights into the effectiveness of different diagnostic methods for equine piroplasmosis. It offers valuable information for better management strategies to reduce the incidence of these diseases.
  • If 31.4% of tested horses carry the disease but only 36.2% of tests are positive, then the use of additional testing techniques might be required for accurate detection.
  • The differences in results between IFAT, cELISA, and PCR indicate that these methods might be suitable for different scenarios, or more comprehensive approaches combining these methods may yield more accurate results.

Cite This Article

APA
Jaffer O, Abdishakur F, Hakimuddin F, Riya A, Wernery U, Schuster RK. (2009). A comparative study of serological tests and PCR for the diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis. Parasitol Res, 106(3), 709-713. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-009-1669-5

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 106
Issue: 3
Pages: 709-713

Researcher Affiliations

Jaffer, Osman
  • Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, PO Box 597, Dubai, UAE.
Abdishakur, Faysal
    Hakimuddin, Fatima
      Riya, Anie
        Wernery, Ulrich
          Schuster, Rolf K

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
            • Babesia / genetics
            • Babesia / immunology
            • Babesia / isolation & purification
            • Babesiosis / diagnosis
            • Babesiosis / veterinary
            • DNA, Protozoan / blood
            • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
            • Horse Diseases / parasitology
            • Horses
            • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
            • Sensitivity and Specificity
            • Serologic Tests / methods
            • Serum / immunology
            • Serum / parasitology
            • Theileria / genetics
            • Theileria / immunology
            • Theileria / isolation & purification

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