A Seroepidemiological Survey of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Horses in Mongolia.

The research article focuses on equine diseases caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi parasites in horses in Mongolia. It provides data on the proportion of horses carrying antibodies for these parasites, revealing widespread infections across the country, and identifies horse age as a significant risk factor.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

• The research primarily aims to examine the seroepidemiology of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses across various Mongolian provinces.
• The methodology involves screening serum samples from blood collected from horses spread across 19 provinces.
• The detection of these parasites is performed using an Enzyme-Linked-Immunosorbent-Assay (ELISA) based on the recombinant forms of antigens: Theileria equi’s merozoite antigen-2 and Babesia caballi’s 48-kDa merozoite rhoptry protein.

Key Findings of the Research

• Out of 1,282 horses analyzed in the study, one-third showed the presence of Theileria equi antibodies and about 14.2% had Babesia caballi antibodies.
• Arising from these statistics, 40.4% of horses were found to be infected by at least one of the two parasites. Among these, 16.8% were co-infected with both parasites.
• The distribution of infection is widespread across all the surveyed provinces, with a varying degree of infection rates ranging from 19.0 to 74.2% for Theileria equi and 4.5 to 39.8% for Babesia caballi.

Comparative Analysis and Risk Factors

• The research finds no significant difference in the frequency of infections between male and female horses.
• However, it identifies horse age as a risk factor for Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection, with horses older than three years having higher infection rates as compared to horses aged between one to three years.

Implications of the Research

• The widespread Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection among horses implies a significant veterinary and economic challenge for Mongolia.
• The findings of the research can be utilized to develop and implement targeted control measures to minimize infections among Mongolian horses, therefore, contributing positively to the local equine industry.