Bartonella spp. infection in healthy and sick horses and foals from the southeastern United States.
Abstract: Bartonella species bacteremia has been identified in numerous animal species. These bacteria cause, or have been associated with, a spectrum of clinical manifestations in dogs and human patients. The frequency of exposure to or infection with Bartonella spp. among healthy and sick horses has not been reported. Objective: To test healthy and sick horses and sick foals from the southeastern United States for serological, microbiological, and molecular evidence of Bartonella infection. Methods: Forty-seven healthy horses, 15 sick foals, 22 horses with musculoskeletal manifestations, and 8 horses with colic were tested for Bartonella. Methods: IFA serology and PCR before and after BAPGM (Bartonella alpha-Proteobacteria Growth Medium) enrichment blood culture. Results: Bartonella antibodies were not detected in foals or horses. Three Bartonella species, B. henselae, B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (genotypes I and III), and a Bartonella species with closest homology to Candidatus Bartonella volans, were PCR-amplified and sequenced from blood or BAPGM enrichment blood culture samples from 1/47 healthy horses, 3/15 sick foals, 5/22 horses with musculoskeletal disease, and 0/8 horses with colic. Conclusions: Horses in the southeastern United States are naturally infected with B. henselae, B. vinsonii subsp. berkhofii genotypes I and III, and a bacteria most similar to Candidatus Bartonella volans. Antibodies were not detectable by indirect fluorescent antibody assay (IFA) testing in bacteremic foals or horses, and prolonged enrichment culture for periods up to 21 days were necessary to document bacteremia in most horses. Further investigation into the pathogenic potential of Bartonella spp. infection in horses is warranted.
Copyright © 2012 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2012-09-24 PubMed ID: 22998229DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00998.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper investigates the occurrence and potential effects of Bartonella bacteria in both healthy and ill horses in the Southeastern United States. Results showed these bacteria are indeed present in this region’s equine population, but more research is needed to fully assess their impact on horse health.
Research Objective
The main objective of this research was to examine whether horses in the southeastern United States, both healthy and ill, have been exposed to or infected with Bartonella spp., a type of bacteria that causes various clinical manifestations in other animals and humans. Various methods of testing were carried out on samples from both healthy horses and those showing symptoms of illness, particularly foals and horses with musculoskeletal symptoms or colic.
Research Methods
- The researchers used two primary testing methods: IFA serology and PCR, both conducted before and after using a special growth medium called BAPGM designed specifically for Bartonella bacteria.
- Study subjects included 47 healthy horses, 15 foals displaying illness symptoms, 22 horses with musculoskeletal disease, and eight horses with colic. All of these subjects were tested for the presence of Bartonella bacteria.
Results of the Study
- Despite extensive testing, no Bartonella antibodies were detected in either foals or horses. This was the case for both IFA serology and PCR-based diagnostics.
- Three Bartonella species, namely B. henselae, B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii (genotypes I and III), and a species most closely resembling Candidatus Bartonella volans, were, however, identified from blood or BAPGM enrichment blood culture samples.
- These bacteria were found in one out of 47 healthy horses, three out of 15 sick foals, and five out of 22 horses showing signs of musculoskeletal disease. None of the eight horses with colic tested positive for any of these bacteria.
Conclusions of the Study
The research concludes that horses in the southeastern United States are naturally infected with various Bartonella species. However, the results also showed that usual testing methods were unable to detect Bartonella antibodies in horses, even those exhibiting symptoms of bacteremia, suggesting the need for prolonged enrichment cultures, up to 21 days, to properly document bacteremia in most horses. The researchers call for further studies into the potential pathogenic effects of Bartonella spp. infection on horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Cherry NA, Jones SL, Maggi RG, Davis JL, Breitschwerdt EB.
(2012).
Bartonella spp. infection in healthy and sick horses and foals from the southeastern United States.
J Vet Intern Med, 26(6), 1408-1412.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2012.00998.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Intracellular Pathogens Research Laboratory, Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial
- Bacteremia / blood
- Bacteremia / veterinary
- Bartonella / isolation & purification
- Bartonella Infections / epidemiology
- Bartonella Infections / microbiology
- Bartonella Infections / veterinary
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Male
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Serologic Tests
- Southeastern United States
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Bush JC, Maggi RG, Breitschwerdt EB. Viability and Desiccation Resistance of Bartonella henselae in Biological and Non-Biological Fluids: Evidence for Pathogen Environmental Stability. Pathogens 2023 Jul 18;12(7).
- Liedig C, Neupane P, Lashnits E, Breitschwerdt EB, Maggi RG. Blood Supplementation Enhances Bartonella henselae Growth and Molecular Detection of Bacterial DNA in Liquid Culture. Microbiol Spectr 2023 Jun 15;11(3):e0512622.
- Cheslock MA, Embers ME. Human Bartonellosis: An Underappreciated Public Health Problem?. Trop Med Infect Dis 2019 Apr 19;4(2).
- Álvarez-Fernández A, Breitschwerdt EB, Solano-Gallego L. Bartonella infections in cats and dogs including zoonotic aspects. Parasit Vectors 2018 Dec 4;11(1):624.
- Smith FL, Magdesian KG, Michel AO, Vaughan B, Reilly CM. Equine idiopathic hemorrhagic cystitis: Clinical features and comparison with bladder neoplasia. J Vet Intern Med 2018 May;32(3):1202-1209.
- Breitschwerdt EB, Broadhurst JJ, Cherry NA. Bartonella henselae as a cause of acute-onset febrile illness in cats. JFMS Open Rep 2015 Jul-Dec;1(2):2055116915600454.
- Antequera-Gómez ML, Lozano-Almendral L, Barandika JF, González-Martín-Niño RM, Rodríguez-Moreno I, García-Pérez AL, Gil H. Bartonella chomelii is the most frequent species infecting cattle grazing in communal mountain pastures in Spain. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015 Jan;81(2):623-9.
- Tomas A, Pultorak EL, Gruen ME, Breitschwerdt EB, Lascelles BD. Relationship between degenerative joint disease, pain, and Bartonella spp. seroreactivity in domesticated cats. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):21-7.
- Setlakwe EL, Sweeney R, Engiles JB, Johnson AL. Identification of Bartonella henselae in the liver of a thoroughbred foal with severe suppurative cholangiohepatitis. J Vet Intern Med 2014 Jul-Aug;28(4):1341-5.
- Maggi RG, Ericson M, Mascarelli PE, Bradley JM, Breitschwerdt EB. Bartonella henselae bacteremia in a mother and son potentially associated with tick exposure. Parasit Vectors 2013 Apr 15;6:101.
- Pultorak EL, Maggi RG, Mascarelli PE, Breitschwerdt EB. Serial testing from a 3-day collection period by use of the Bartonella Alphaproteobacteria growth medium platform may enhance the sensitivity of Bartonella species detection in bacteremic human patients. J Clin Microbiol 2013 Jun;51(6):1673-7.
- Bullard RL, Cheslock M, Goud Gadila SK, Maggi RG, Breitschwerdt EB, Saied AA, Embers ME. A comparison of Bartonella henselae infection in immunocompetent and immunocompromised mice. PLoS One 2024;19(2):e0297280.
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