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Veterinary parasitology2012; 187(3-4); 558-562; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.01.018

Demographic and environmental risk factors for infection by Theileria equi in 590 horses in Israel.

Abstract: The prevalence of Theileria equi infection as well as the environmental and demographic risk factors for infection was studied in 590 healthy horses from 46 farms in Israel. The prevalence of T. equi DNA was assessed using a polymerase chain reaction for a segment of the Theileria 18S rRNA gene. The overall prevalence was 26.4% (156/590). There was a significant geographical variation in the prevalence of T. equi infection, ranging from 9.3% (25/270) in the central lowlands to 81.7% (49/60) in the Golan Heights. The prevalence of T. equi infection was found to be significantly associated with management types with more horses with access to pasture being positive. Breed was identified as a risk factor for T. equi infection in a univariate analysis with relatively high infection rates in the Quarter horse and local breeds (41.1% and 36.3% respectively), while ponies and Arabian horses had a relatively low prevalence (10% and 9.1%, respectively). However, since a correlation between geographic location and breed was found, it is difficult to draw definite conclusions regarding this risk factor. Age and gender were not found as risk factors for T. equi infection in this study. The environmental variables that were significantly associated with positivity were relative humidity and minimum land surface temperature at day which both showed negative correlation with T. equi prevalence. In conclusion, Israel was found to be enzootic for T. equi infection, as indicated by the high sub-clinical infection rate, which differed between geographical areas.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2012-01-17 PubMed ID: 22293151DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.01.018Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article summarizes a study that investigates the prevalence of Theileria equi infection in horses as well as the demographic and environmental risk factors associated with the infection, based on data gathered from 590 healthy horses across 46 farms in Israel.

Overview of the Research Study

  • The purpose of the study was to understand the prevalence of Theileria equi infection in horses and identify the demographic and environmental risk factors that may influence infection.
  • Data was collected from 590 healthy horses across 46 farms in Israel.
  • Theileria 18S rRNA gene was used as an assessment marker for infection detection.

Key Findings

  • The overall prevalence of Theileria equi infection was found to be 26.4% among the examined horses.
  • Significant geographical differences were noted in infection rates, with the Golan Heights region exhibiting the highest prevalence at 81.7%.
  • Horses with access to pasture were significantly more likely to test positive for T. equi infection, indicating a correlation with management types.
  • Breed of the horse was also identified as a risk factor, with Quarter horses and local breeds experiencing relatively high infection rates. However, the study suggests that this could be because of a correlation between breed and geographical location.
  • Age and gender of the horses were not found to be risk factors for T. equi infection.
  • Environmental variables also showed significance. Relative humidity and minimum land surface temperature at the day had a negative correlation with infection prevalence.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that Israel is enzootic for Theileria equi infection given the high prevalence rate of sub-clinical infection.
  • It was also found that the prevalence of infection varied significantly among geographical areas suggesting the influence of ecological factors.

Cite This Article

APA
Steinman A, Zimmerman T, Klement E, Lensky IM, Berlin D, Gottlieb Y, Baneth G. (2012). Demographic and environmental risk factors for infection by Theileria equi in 590 horses in Israel. Vet Parasitol, 187(3-4), 558-562. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.01.018

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 187
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 558-562

Researcher Affiliations

Steinman, Amir
  • Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, POB 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel. steinman@agri.huji.ac.il
Zimmerman, Tal
    Klement, Eyal
      Lensky, Itamar M
        Berlin, Dalia
          Gottlieb, Yuval
            Baneth, Gad

              MeSH Terms

              • Aging
              • Animals
              • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
              • Environment
              • Female
              • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
              • Horse Diseases / parasitology
              • Horses
              • Israel / epidemiology
              • Male
              • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
              • Prevalence
              • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
              • Risk Factors
              • Theileria / classification
              • Theileria / isolation & purification
              • Theileriasis / epidemiology
              • Theileriasis / parasitology

              Citations

              This article has been cited 16 times.
              1. Tirosh-Levy S, Mazuz ML, Savitsky I, Pinkas D, Gottlieb Y, Steinman A. Serological and Molecular Prevalence of Babesia caballi in Apparently Healthy Horses in Israel. Pathogens 2021 Apr 8;10(4).
                doi: 10.3390/pathogens10040445pubmed: 33917822google scholar: lookup
              2. 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
              3. Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Levy H, Katz Y, Shtilman M, Gottlieb Y. Parasite load and genotype are associated with clinical outcome of piroplasm-infected equines in Israel. Parasit Vectors 2020 May 20;13(1):267.
                doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04133-ypubmed: 32434550google scholar: lookup
              4. Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Mimoun L, Mazuz ML, Steinman A. Transplacental Transmission of Theileria equi Is Not a Common Cause of Abortions and Infection of Foals in Israel. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 21;10(2).
                doi: 10.3390/ani10020341pubmed: 32098113google scholar: lookup
              5. Sunday Idoko I, Tirosh-Levy S, Leszkowicz Mazuz M, Mohammed Adam B, Sikiti Garba B, Wesley Nafarnda D, Steinman A. Genetic Characterization of Piroplasms in Donkeys and Horses from Nigeria. Animals (Basel) 2020 Feb 18;10(2).
                doi: 10.3390/ani10020324pubmed: 32085574google scholar: lookup
              6. Smith RM, Bhoora RV, Kotzé A, Grobler JP, Lee Dalton D. Translocation a potential corridor for equine piroplasms in Cape mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019 Aug;9:130-133.
                doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.04.010pubmed: 31080728google scholar: lookup
              7. Sant C, Allicock OM, d'Abadie R, Charles RA, Georges K. Phylogenetic analysis of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi sequences from thoroughbred mares and foals in Trinidad. Parasitol Res 2019 Apr;118(4):1171-1177.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-019-06240-xpubmed: 30761425google scholar: lookup
              8. Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Apanaskevich DA, Mumcuoglu KY, Steinman A. Species distribution and seasonal dynamics of equine tick infestation in two Mediterranean climate niches in Israel. Parasit Vectors 2018 Oct 16;11(1):546.
                doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-3093-0pubmed: 30326955google scholar: lookup
              9. 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
              10. Mahmoud MS, El-Ezz NT, Abdel-Shafy S, Nassar SA, El Namaky AH, Khalil WK, Knowles D, Kappmeyer L, Silva MG, Suarez CE. Assessment of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in equine populations in Egypt by molecular, serological and hematological approaches. Parasit Vectors 2016 May 4;9:260.
                doi: 10.1186/s13071-016-1539-9pubmed: 27146413google scholar: lookup
              11. Sumbria D, Das Singla L, Sharma A. Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection of equids in Punjab, India: a serological and molecular survey. Trop Anim Health Prod 2016 Jan;48(1):45-52.
                doi: 10.1007/s11250-015-0917-1pubmed: 26387094google scholar: lookup
              12. Guidi E, Pradier S, Lebert I, Leblond A. Piroplasmosis in an endemic area: analysis of the risk factors and their implications in the control of Theileriosis and Babesiosis in horses. Parasitol Res 2015 Jan;114(1):71-83.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-4161-9pubmed: 25280516google scholar: lookup
              13. Ribeiro AJ, Cardoso L, Maia JM, Coutinho T, Cotovio M. Prevalence of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses from the north of Portugal. Parasitol Res 2013 Jul;112(7):2611-7.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-013-3429-9pubmed: 23591484google scholar: lookup
              14. Dao TTH, Szűts T, Duong NN, Troung DTQ, Solymosi N, Takács N, Hornok S, Farkas R. The first molecular detection of equine piroplasmosis in Vietnam and genetic characterization of three co-circulating genotypes of Theileria equi. Parasitol Res 2026 Feb 5;125(1):14.
                doi: 10.1007/s00436-026-08630-4pubmed: 41644779google scholar: lookup
              15. Jongejan F, Du C, Papadopoulos E, Blanda V, Di Bella S, Cannella V, Guercio A, Vicari D, Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Baneth G, van Keulen S, Hulsebos I, Berger L, Wang X. Diagnostic performance of a rapid immunochromatographic test for the simultaneous detection of antibodies to Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses and donkeys. Parasit Vectors 2024 Mar 28;17(1):160.
                doi: 10.1186/s13071-024-06253-1pubmed: 38549117google scholar: lookup
              16. 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
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