Antibodies reactive to Ehrlichia spp. are common in Oklahoma horses.
Abstract: Abstract Tick infestations and infection with tick-borne agents are commonly recognized in horses in North America, but equine infection with true Ehrlichia spp. has not been described. To determine the degree to which horses in the south-central United States are naturally exposed to and infected with tick-borne disease agents, serum samples were collected at random (n=240) or from horses with active tick infestations (n=73) and tested by immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) and/or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for evidence of antibodies reactive to Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi. Positive samples were further evaluated by species-specific serology for antibodies reactive to E. canis and E. chaffeensis, and whole blood samples were tested by PCR for evidence of infection with E. canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and an E. ruminantium-like organism referred to as the Panola Mountain Ehrlichia. Antibodies reactive to Ehrlichia spp. were identified in 8.75% (21/240) of the randomly acquired samples and 24.7% (18/73) of the serum samples from tick-infested horses, but species-specific ELISA and PCR failed to confirm exposure to or infection with any known Ehrlichia spp. Antibodies to Anaplasma spp. (5/313; 1.6%) and B. burgdorferi (3/313; 1.0%) were uncommon. These data suggest that horses in the south-central United States are likely exposed to a novel Ehrlichia sp. Further research is needed to identify the etiologic agent responsible for the serologic activity seen and to determine the clinical significance, if any, of this finding.
Publication Date: 2014-07-30 PubMed ID: 25072984DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1570Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Antibodies
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Prevalence
- Disease Surveillance
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Immunofluorescence Assay
- Immunology
- Infection
- Infectious Disease
- Public Health
- Serological Surveys
- Serology
- Seroprevalence
- Tick-Borne Diseases
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research investigates the prevalence of exposure and infection with tick-borne diseases, particularly those caused by Ehrlichia spp. in horses in the south-central United States.
Research Methodology
- Purpose of the research was to establish levels of natural exposure and infection with tick-borne disease agents in horses in the south-central US.
- Two groups of horses were identified – those randomly chosen (n=240) and those with active tick infestations (n=73). Blood samples were collected from each group.
- These blood samples were examined with immunofluorescence antibody assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, looking specifically for antibodies responsive to Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Borrelia burgdorferi.
- Positive samples were further analyzed for specific species of Ehrlichia, using both species-specific serology and PCR tests.
Findings
- Evidence of reactive antibodies to Ehrlichia spp. was found in a significant number of samples. 8.75% of the randomly selected samples and 24.7% of those from horses with tick infestations showed such reactivity.
- However, the subsequent species-specific ELISA and PCR tests for Ehrlichia were negative. This suggests that the horses might have been exposed to either a different, as yet unidentified, Ehrlichia species, or a completely unknown tick-borne agent.
- Antibodies reactive to Anaplasma spp. (1.6%) and B. burgdorferi (1.0%) were rarely found, implying that these diseases may not be as prevalent in the studied region or in the targeted population of horses.
Conclusions
- The results demonstrate that horses in the south-central US are likely exposed to a novel Ehrlichia species.
- Further examination is required to determine the agent responsible for this reactivity and uncover its clinical significance. It is necessary to conduct ongoing research to evaluate the tick-borne infection risk for horses in the area, which is fundamental to the formulation of future equine health strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Carmichael RC, Duell JR, Holbrook TC, Herrin BH, Leutenegger CM, O'Connor TP, Little SE.
(2014).
Antibodies reactive to Ehrlichia spp. are common in Oklahoma horses.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis, 14(8), 552-556.
https://doi.org/10.1089/vbz.2013.1570 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- 1 Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University , Stillwater, Oklahoma.
MeSH Terms
- Anaplasma / isolation & purification
- Animals
- Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
- Ehrlichia / immunology
- Ehrlichia / isolation & purification
- Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
- Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
- Female
- Horses / virology
- Lyme Disease / veterinary
- Male
- Oklahoma / epidemiology
- Tick Infestations / veterinary
- Tick-Borne Diseases
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Bogdan AM, Ionita M, Mitrea IL. Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Horses, Romania.. Microorganisms 2021 Feb 12;9(2).
- Muraro LS, Souza AO, Leite TNS, Cândido SL, Melo ALT, Toma HS, Carvalho MB, Dutra V, Nakazato L, Cabezas-Cruz A, Aguiar DM. First Evidence of Ehrlichia minasensis Infection in Horses from Brazil.. Pathogens 2021 Feb 25;10(3).
- Funk RA, Pleasant RS, Witonsky SG, Reeder DS, Werre SR, Hodgson DR. Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in Horses Presented for Coggins Testing in Southwest Virginia and Change in Positive Test Results Approximately 1 Year Later.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1300-4.
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