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Veterinary parasitology2006; 144(1-2); 167-171; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.09.015

A serological study of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Thoroughbreds in Trinidad.

Abstract: Ninety-three (93) horses were investigated for serum antibodies to Theileria equi (T. equi) and Babesia caballi (B. caballi) using the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Seventy-seven (82.8%) horses were seropositive; 31 (33.3%) were positive to T. equi compared to 64 (68.8%) to B. caballi while 18 (19.4%) horses were seropositive to both parasites. No significant differences in antibody frequencies among females and males for either T. equi or B. caballi were noted. Differences in seropositivity to B. caballi among age groups were not significant. Antibodies to T. equi were more frequent than to B.caballi in the age group 5 years and over than in the 1-2 and 2-4 years age groups (p<0.05). Unlike T. equi antibodies, B. caballi antibodies in horses in the county of Caroni were significantly less frequent when compared to other counties (p<0.05). Of 18 (19.4%) clinically ill horses, seven (42.9%) had clinicopathological evidence of anemia. Only one-third (6 of 18) horses were positive for the parasite on Wright-Giemsa stained blood smears and anemia was present in only 2. We report here that B. caballi and not T. equi may be the more common agent of piroplasmosis in Trinidad.
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Publication Date: 2006-11-22 PubMed ID: 17118557DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.09.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

This research studies the presence of antibodies against parasitic diseases (caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) in horses in Trinidad, finding a more common seropositivity to B. caballi and suggesting it as the major agent of piroplasmosis in the area.

Introduction and Background

  • The research focuses on the investigation of serum antibodies to Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, parasites that cause diseases in horses. Both of these parasites are known to lead to piroplasmosis, a disease prominent in horses, leading to severe health issues such as fever, anemia, and even death.
  • These parasites are usually spread through ticks and can be found in the horse’s blood. The presence of antibodies against these parasites in the serum of horses would indicate recent or previous infection.

Methodology

  • The study used the immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to examine serum samples from ninety-three racehorses.
  • The properties of the horse, such as age, gender, health condition, and region, were taken into account in the study.

Results

  • It was found that 77, or approximately 82.8%, of the studied horses were seropositive, indicating an infection in the past or present.
  • The study discovered variations in the occurrence of antibodies against the two parasites: 31 (33.3%) horses tested positive for T. equi and 64 (68.8%) horses for B. caballi. There were 18 (19.4%) horses found to be seropositive for both parasites.
  • Anemia, a clinical sign of infection, was found in seven of the eighteen (42.9%) clinically ill horses.
  • The presence of parasites in horse blood samples was confirmed in only one-third of the 18 ill horses.

Conclusion

  • The study reports that B. caballi may be the more common agent of piroplasmosis in Trinidad compared to T. equi, based on higher seropositivity to this parasite.
  • The research implies that there is a great need for proper clinical management and prevention methods to control the spread of these diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Asgarali Z, Coombs DK, Mohammed F, Campbell MD, Caesar E. (2006). A serological study of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Thoroughbreds in Trinidad. Vet Parasitol, 144(1-2), 167-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.09.015

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 144
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 167-171

Researcher Affiliations

Asgarali, Zinora
  • Department of Paraclinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Trinidad, West Indies. zinoraa@yahoo.com
Coombs, Dane K
    Mohammed, Fatima
      Campbell, Mervyn D
        Caesar, Ernest

          MeSH Terms

          • Age Factors
          • Animals
          • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
          • Babesia / immunology
          • Babesiosis / epidemiology
          • Babesiosis / veterinary
          • Female
          • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / methods
          • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horses
          • Male
          • Seroepidemiologic Studies
          • Sex Factors
          • Theileria / immunology
          • Theileriasis / epidemiology
          • Trinidad and Tobago / epidemiology

          Citations

          This article has been cited 18 times.
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