FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Ticks and tick-borne diseases2016; 7(3); 462-469; doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.01.011

Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Central-Southern Italy: Sero-molecular survey and associated risk factors.

Abstract: Babesia caballi and Theileria equi are tick-borne pathogens, etiological agents of equine piroplasmosis that affect different species of Equidae causing relevantly important direct and indirect losses. A field study was conducted to evaluate the distribution of the equine piroplasms in an area of Central-Southern Italy and to identify correlated risk factors. Serum samples of 673 asymptomatic horses were collected during spring-summer of 2013 to estimate the seroprevalence of the parasites within the study area using T. equi and B. caballi Antibody test kit (VMRD(®), Inc, Pullman, WA, USA). The 273 seropositive samples were subsequently tested by real time PCR to verify the presence of the genome of the piroplasms, indicative of the carrier status of the subjects. The variables chosen to identify which were the risk factors associated with the serological and PCR-positivity for each of the equine piroplasms were the following: gender, age, breed, access to pasture, altitude, land cover, climatic zone, soil type and province location (coastal/inland). The resulting overall seroprevalence for T. equi was 39.8% (268/673) and for B. caballi was 8.9% (60/673) while 70.3% of the PCR tested samples (185/263) were positive for T. equi and 10.3% (27/263) for B. caballi. The univariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the association of the risk factors with the different outcomes. The risk factors found to be associated with T. equi seropositivity were gender, age, breed, access to pasture, land cover, soil type and province location, while those associated with PCR-positivity were age, soil type and province location. As the number of B. caballi seropositive subjects was limited, the multiple logistic regression model was performed only for the PCR-positive status, identifying climatic zone and soil type as the sole risk factors. In the study area, a major diffusion of T. equi, in terms of seroprevalence and PCR-positivity was present when compared to that of B. caballi, probably related to the cumulative effect of the life-long infection of the former protozoan. The identification of risk factors relative to each piroplasm infection, specific to a study area, is important in the development and improvement of tailored control and prevention programmes aimed at containing health and economic consequences.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2016-01-21 PubMed ID: 26847198DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.01.011Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 research investigates the prevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections, tick-borne pathogens that cause equine piroplasmosis, in horses residing in Central-Southern Italy. It also analyzes the risk factors linked to these infections.

About the Study

  • The study was conducted on 673 asymptomatic horses during the spring-summer season of 2013 in Central-Southern Italy. These horses were tested for the seroprevalence of the equine piroplasms with T. equi and B. caballi Antibody test kit by VMRD(®).
  • Out of all the tested horses, 273 seropositive samples were identified. These samples were further subjected to real-time PCR analysis to detect the presence of the piroplasms’ genome, establishing the carrier status of the horses.

Results of the Study

  • A total of 39.8% of horses were seropositive for T. equi and 8.9% for B. caballi. The PCR tests demonstrated that 70.3% of samples were positive for T. equi and 10.3% for B. caballi.
  • The study used univariate and multiple logistic regression models to understand the association of the risk factors with the different outcomes.

Risk Factors Related to T. equi and B. caballi

  • For T. equi seropositivity, the risk factors were gender, age, breed, access to pasture, land cover, soil type, and province location.
  • For T. equi PCR-positivity, the risk factors were age, soil type, and province location.
  • Due to limited seropositive subjects, analysis for B. caballi was only done for PCR-positive status, and the risk factors were found to be climatic zone and soil type.

Conclusion

  • Higher prevalence of T. equi was noted compared to B. caballi, most likely due to the lifelong infection nature of T. equi.
  • Identifying risk factors for each subtype of infection is critical for creating and updating control and prevention programs, thereby suppressing potential health and economic impacts.

Cite This Article

APA
(2016). Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Central-Southern Italy: Sero-molecular survey and associated risk factors. Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 7(3), 462-469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.01.011

Publication

Ticks and tick-borne diseases
ISSN: 1877-9603
NlmUniqueID: 101522599
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 7
Issue: 3
Pages: 462-469
PII: S1877-959X(16)30010-3

Researcher Affiliations

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia / classification
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesia / isolation & purification
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Epidemiological Monitoring
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Theileria / classification
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Theileria / isolation & purification
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis / parasitology
  • Tick Infestations / epidemiology
  • Tick Infestations / parasitology
  • Tick Infestations / veterinary
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / parasitology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary
  • Ticks / parasitology

Grant Funding

  • 001 / World Health Organization

Citations

This article has been cited 23 times.
  1. Liang W, Zhao S, Wang N, Tang Z, Zhao F, Liu M, Jin W, Meng Y, Jia L. Molecular occurrence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in equids in Jilin, China. Sci Rep 2022 Jul 30;12(1):13121.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-16658-6pubmed: 35907906google scholar: lookup
  2. Giubega S, Ilie MS, Luca I, Florea T, Dreghiciu C, Oprescu I, Morariu S, Dărăbuș G. Seroprevalence of Anti-Theileria equi Antibodies in Horses from Three Geographically Distinct Areas of Romania. Pathogens 2022 Jun 9;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens11060669pubmed: 35745523google scholar: lookup
  3. Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Allievi C, De Maria C, Persichetti MF, Caracappa G, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Infections in Horses from Northern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 12;12(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12080999pubmed: 35454246google scholar: lookup
  4. Bravo-Barriga D, Serrano-Aguilera FJ, Barrasa-Rita R, Habela MÁ, Chacón RB, Ezquerra LJ, Martín-Cuervo M. Effects of Competitive ELISA-Positive Results of Piroplasmosis on the Performance of Endurance Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 3;12(5).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12050637pubmed: 35268210google scholar: lookup
  5. Galon EM, Macalanda AM, Garcia MM, Ibasco CJ, Garvida A, Ji S, Zafar I, Hasegawa Y, Liu M, Ybañez RH, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Ybañez A, Claveria F, Xuan X. Molecular Identification of Selected Tick-Borne Protozoan and Bacterial Pathogens in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Cavite, Philippines. Pathogens 2021 Oct 13;10(10).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens10101318pubmed: 34684266google scholar: lookup
  6. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens10060714pubmed: 34200433google scholar: lookup
  7. Nardini R, Bartolomé Del Pino LE, Cersini A, Manna G, Viola MR, Antognetti V, Autorino GL, Scicluna MT. Comparison of PCR-based methods for the detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in field samples collected in Central Italy. Parasitol Res 2021 Jun;120(6):2157-2164.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-021-07153-4pubmed: 33855619google scholar: lookup
  8. 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).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens9110926pubmed: 33171698google scholar: lookup
  9. Zhao S, Wang H, Zhang S, Xie S, Li H, Zhang X, Jia L. First report of genetic diversity and risk factor analysis of equine piroplasm infection in equids in Jilin, China. Parasit Vectors 2020 Sep 9;13(1):459.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04338-1pubmed: 32907616google scholar: lookup
  10. 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.
    doi: 10.1017/S0031182020001407pubmed: 32741382google scholar: lookup
  11. Onyiche TE, Taioe MO, Ogo NI, Sivakumar T, Biu AA, Mbaya AW, Xuan X, Yokoyama N, Thekisoe O. Molecular evidence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in equines and ticks in Nigeria: prevalence and risk factors analysis. Parasitology 2020 Sep;147(11):1238-1248.
    doi: 10.1017/S0031182020000992pubmed: 32605687google scholar: lookup
  12. Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 May 16;16(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101736pubmed: 31100920google scholar: lookup
  13. 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.
    doi: 10.1051/parasite/2017015pubmed: 28497743google scholar: lookup
  14. Ullah A, Geng M, Chen W, Zhu Q, Shi L, Zhang X, Akhtar MF, Wang C, Khan MZ. Effect of Parasitic Infections on Hematological Profile, Reproductive and Productive Performance in Equines. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 14;15(22).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15223294pubmed: 41302002google scholar: lookup
  15. Duaso J, Perez-Ecija A, Navarro A, Martínez E, De Las Heras A, Mendoza FJ. True Prevalence and Seroprevalence of Piroplasmosis in Horses in Southwestern Europe. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 11;15(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15142047pubmed: 40723509google scholar: lookup
  16. Duaso J, Perez-Ecija A, Navarro A, Martínez E, De Las Heras A, Mendoza FJ. Evaluation of Blood Biochemical Parameters and Ratios in Piroplasmosis-Infected Horses in an Endemic Region. Vet Sci 2025 Jul 5;12(7).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12070643pubmed: 40711303google scholar: lookup
  17. Duaso J, Perez-Ecija A, Martínez E, Navarro A, De Las Heras A, Mendoza FJ. Assessment of Common Hematologic Parameters and Novel Hematologic Ratios for Predicting Piroplasmosis Infection in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 20;15(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15101485pubmed: 40427362google scholar: lookup
  18. Giubega S, Ilie MS, Morariu S, Imre M, Dreghiciu C, Rugea T, Ivascu S, Simion G, Dărăbuș G. Molecular Investigations of Babesia caballi from Clinically Healthy Horses in Southwestern Romania. Vet Sci 2024 Nov 27;11(12).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci11120600pubmed: 39728940google scholar: lookup
  19. Axt CW, Springer A, von Luckner J, Naucke TJ, Müller E, Strube C, Schäfer I. [Equine piroplasmosis: Case descriptions and overview of the epidemiological situation in Europe with focus on Germany]. Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere 2025 Feb;53(1):49-58.
    doi: 10.1055/a-2457-5516pubmed: 39631762google scholar: lookup
  20. Mendoza FJ, Pérez-Écija A, Kappmeyer LS, Suarez CE, Bastos RG. New insights in the diagnosis and treatment of equine piroplasmosis: pitfalls, idiosyncrasies, and myths. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1459989.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1459989pubmed: 39205808google scholar: lookup
  21. 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.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1359974pubmed: 38746933google scholar: lookup
  22. Axt CW, Springer A, Strube C, Jung C, Naucke TJ, Müller E, Schäfer I. Molecular and Serological Detection of Vector-Borne Pathogens Responsible for Equine Piroplasmosis in Europe between 2008 and 2021. Microorganisms 2024 Apr 17;12(4).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12040816pubmed: 38674760google scholar: lookup
  23. 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.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-03908-0pubmed: 38443906google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.