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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Med Int / Detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Blood fro...
Veterinary medicine international2015; 2015; 236278; doi: 10.1155/2015/236278

Detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Blood from Equines from Four Indigenous Communities in Costa Rica.

Abstract: A cross-sectional study was carried out in four indigenous communities of Costa Rica to detect presence and prevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi and to investigate factors associated with presence of these hemoparasites. General condition of horses (n = 285) was evaluated, and hematocrits and hemoglobin were determined from blood samples of 130 horses, which were also analyzed using blood smears, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). The general condition of the horses (n = 285) in terms of their body and coat was between regular and poor, and hematocrit and hemoglobin average values were low (19% and 10.65 g/dL, resp.). Erythrocyte inclusions were observed in 32 (24.6%) of the samples. Twenty-six samples (20.0%) gave positive results for B. caballi and 60 (46.2%) for T. equi; 10 horses (7.7%) showed mixed infection, when analyzed by PCR. Using c-ELISA, it was found that 90 (69.2%) horses had antibodies against B. caballi and 115 (88.5%) against T. equi, while 81 (62.3%) showed mixed reactions. There were no factors associated with the presence of B. caballi and T. equi. These results contrast with results previously obtained in equines in the Central Valley of Costa Rica.
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Publication Date: 2015-11-16 PubMed ID: 26649225PubMed Central: PMC4663365DOI: 10.1155/2015/236278Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 was conducted to check for the presence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi parasites in horses from four indigenous communities in Costa Rica, and to investigate any factors associated with the parasites’ presence. The health condition, hematocrits, and hemoglobin of the horses were examined and the blood samples were also analyzed using various methods.

Research Methods

  • The researchers carried out a cross-sectional study, examining 285 horses in four indigenous communities of Costa Rica.
  • The overall condition of the horses was assessed, based on factors like their body and coat. The average hematocrit and hemoglobin values were found to be low; 19% and 10.65 g/dL respectively.
  • Blood samples from 130 horses were examined via blood smears, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA).

Research Findings

  • Out of the samples examined, erythrocyte inclusions, which are changes in the structure of red blood cells, were observed in 32 samples, representing 24.6% of the samples.
  • Using the PCR method, the researchers found that 26 samples, or 20.0% of the samples, tested positive for B. caballi. Meanwhile, 60 samples, or 46.2%, tested positive for T. equi. Also, 10 horses, making up 7.7% of the total samples, showed a mixed infection of the two parasites.
  • With the use of c-ELISA testing, the researchers found 90 horses, equivalent to 69.2% of the horses tested, had antibodies against B. caballi. A higher proportion, 115 horses or 88.5% of those tested, had antibodies against T. equi. Furthermore, 81 horses, or 62.3%, showed mixed reactions, having antibodies against both parasites.
  • The authors concluded that, based on their findings, there weren’t any observed factors associated with the presence of the two parasites, B. caballi and T. equi.
  • The study’s results were compared to previously done research on horses in Costa Rica’s Central Valley, and were found to be different.

Cite This Article

APA
Posada-Guzmán MF, Dolz G, Romero-Zúñiga JJ, Jiménez-Rocha AE. (2015). Detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Blood from Equines from Four Indigenous Communities in Costa Rica. Vet Med Int, 2015, 236278. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/236278

Publication

Veterinary medicine international
ISSN: 2090-8113
NlmUniqueID: 101524203
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 2015
Pages: 236278
PII: 236278

Researcher Affiliations

Posada-Guzmán, María Fernanda
  • Maestría en Enfermedades Tropicales, Posgrado Regional en Ciencias Veterinarias Tropicales, Universidad Nacional, Campus Presbítero Benjamín Nuñez, P.O. Box 86, 3000 Heredia, Costa Rica.
Dolz, Gaby
  • Maestría en Enfermedades Tropicales, Posgrado Regional en Ciencias Veterinarias Tropicales, Universidad Nacional, Campus Presbítero Benjamín Nuñez, P.O. Box 86, 3000 Heredia, Costa Rica ; Programa de Investigación en Medicina Poblacional, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Campus Presbítero Benjamín Nuñez, P.O. Box 86, 3000 Heredia, Costa Rica.
Romero-Zúñiga, Juan José
  • Programa de Investigación en Medicina Poblacional, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Campus Presbítero Benjamín Nuñez, P.O. Box 86, 3000 Heredia, Costa Rica.
Jiménez-Rocha, Ana Eugenia
  • Laboratorio de Parasitología, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, Campus Presbítero Benjamín Nuñez, P.O. Box 86, 3000 Heredia, Costa Rica.

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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