A comparative study on the prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in horse sub-populations in Turkey.
Abstract: Blood and serum samples were taken from 481 horses, from a stud farm or a racecourse, and tested by microscopic examination of blood smears and cELISA for Theileria equi (T. equi) and Babesia caballi (B. caballi) infections. At the time of sampling, animals were also examined for tick infestations and clinical disease, which were not observed in any of the sampled horses. During the microscopic examination of thin blood smears, parasites were detected in the three horses from the racecourse. Overall seroprevalence of infection was detected as 18.50% (89 of 481 horses) by cELISA, with T. equi being significantly more prevalent than B. caballi. Of the 481 blood samples, 78 (16.21%) were serologically positive for T. equi and 4 (0.83%) were serologically positive for B. caballi. In addition, 7 (1.46%) samples were positive for both T. equi and B. caballi antibodies. Seropositivity rates in the racecourse horses were higher than those determined in the stud farm horses. The rates for T. equi, B. caballi and both species were 13.39, 0.52 and 0% in the horses from the stud farm and 27, 2 and 7% in the racecourse horses, respectively. These results indicate that equine piroplasmosis is more common in racehorses than studhorses and therefore it might be a serious concern in horses that participate to international races.
Publication Date: 2008-06-18 PubMed ID: 18672330DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.06.006Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 study examined the prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections, which cause equine piroplasmosis, in horses at a stud farm and a racecourse in Turkey and found higher rates of infection in racehorses.
Research Project and Procedure
- The research aimed to understand the prevalence of Theileria equi (T. equi) and Babesia caballi (B. caballi) infections, which are responsible for equine piroplasmosis – a disease mainly transmitted by ticks that can negatively affect horse’s health, and sometimes can be fatal.
- For the study, blood and serum samples of 481 horses either from a stud farm or a racecourse were collected and examined.
- The researchers used two methods to test for the infections – microscopic examination and a testing system known as ‘cELISA’.
- They also checked animals for tick infestations and symptoms of disease, neither of which was observed in any of the sampled horses.
Findings
- Parasites were detected in three racecourse horses through microscopic examination.
- The overall rate of infection detected by the cELISA test was 18.50%, with T. equi more prevalent than B. caballi.
- Among the 481 samples, 78 samples (or 16.21%) tested positive for T. equi, while only 4 (or 0.83%) were positive for B. caballi.
- 7 samples (or 1.46%) had antibodies indicating infection by both T. equi and B. caballi.
- When comparing the rates of infection between locations, the racecourse horses had significantly higher rates of infection than the stud farm horses. The rates for T. equi, B. caballi and both species were found to be 13.39%, 0.52% and 0% respectively for the stud farm horses, compared to 27%, 2% and 7% for the racecourse horses.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that equine piroplasmosis is more common in racehorses than in horses on a stud farm. This difference suggests that the disease is a more serious concern in horses that participate in international races.
Cite This Article
APA
Sevinc F, Maden M, Kumas C, Sevinc M, Ekici OD.
(2008).
A comparative study on the prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in horse sub-populations in Turkey.
Vet Parasitol, 156(3-4), 173-177.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.06.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University of Selcuk, Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 42031 Konya, Turkey. fsevinc@selcuk.edu.tr
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesia / classification
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Theileria / classification
- Theileriasis / epidemiology
- Turkey / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Torres R, Hurtado C, Pérez-Macchi S, Bittencourt P, Freschi C, de Mello VVC, Machado RZ, André MR, Müller A. Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Chilean Thoroughbred Racing Horses. Pathogens 2021 Jun 7;10(6).
- Ceylan O, Xuan X, Sevinc F. Primary Tick-Borne Protozoan and Rickettsial Infections of Animals in Turkey. Pathogens 2021 Feb 19;10(2).
- Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Fry LM, Knowles DP, Steinman A. Twenty Years of Equine Piroplasmosis Research: Global Distribution, Molecular Diagnosis, and Phylogeny. Pathogens 2020 Nov 8;9(11).
- Onyiche TE, Taioe MO, Molefe NI, Biu AA, Luka J, Omeh IJ, Yokoyama N, Thekisoe O. Equine piroplasmosis: an insight into global exposure of equids from 1990 to 2019 by systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasitology 2020 Nov;147(13):1411-1424.
- Aziz KJ, Al-Barwary LTO. Epidemiological Study of Equine Piroplasmosis (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) by Microscopic Examination and Competitive-ELISA in Erbil Province North-Iraq. Iran J Parasitol 2019 Jul-Sep;14(3):404-412.
- Soosaraei M, Haghi MM, Etemadifar F, Fakhar M, Teshnizi SH, Hezarjaribi HZ, Asfaram S. Status of theileriosis among herbivores in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet World 2018 Mar;11(3):332-341.
- Montes Cortés MG, Fernández-García JL, Habela Martínez-Estéllez MÁ. Seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in Spain. Parasite 2017;24:14.
- Guidi E, Pradier S, Lebert I, Leblond A. Piroplasmosis in an endemic area: analysis of the risk factors and their implications in the control of Theileriosis and Babesiosis in horses. Parasitol Res 2015 Jan;114(1):71-83.
- Dahmani A, Salhi O, Nabi M, Boucif A, Mekroud M, Touhami NAK, Ouchene N. Abortive diseases in horses and donkeys in Algeria: a systematic review. Trop Anim Health Prod 2026 Jan 5;58(1):30.
- Hacilarlioglu S, Bilgic HB, Karagenc T, Aydin HB, Toker H, Kanlioglu H, Pekagirbas M, Bakirci S. Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Equine Piroplasmosis and Other Blood Parasites in Equids of Western Aegean Türkiye. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 27;12(9).
- Fernandes TA, Paulino PG, Dos Santos Juliano D, Rabello CA, de Oliveira NVB, de Souza Santana M, Peckle M, Massard CL, da Costa Angelo I, Jacob JCF, Santos HA. Epidemiology and genetic diversity of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in draft horses in the Distrito Federal, Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 2025 Feb 19;57(2):72.
- Altay K, Erol U, Sahin OF, Ulucesme MC, Aytmirzakizi A, Aktas M. Survey of tick-borne pathogens in grazing horses in Kyrgyzstan: phylogenetic analysis, genetic diversity, and prevalence of Theileria equi. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1359974.
- Coluccia P, Gizzarelli M, Scicluna MT, Manna G, Foglia Manzillo V, Buono F, Auletta L, Palumbo V, Pasolini MP. A cross-sectional study on performance evaluation in Italian standardbred horses' real-time PCR-positive for Theileria equi. BMC Vet Res 2024 Mar 5;20(1):79.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
