Epidemiological aspects of equine babesioses in a herd of horses in Brazil.
Abstract: Epidemiological studies of Babesia equi and B. caballi were undertaken in a herd of 120 pastured horses in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The area where the horses were held was shown to be highly endemic for both Babesia spp., i.e. the prevalence of B. equi antibodies in horses aged 6 months or older ranged from 90.6% to 100% as determined by the immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) test, and the prevalence of B. caballi antibodies as determined by Western blot ranged from 59.4% to 65.5%. From the herd, 20 foals and their dams were selected to estimate the degree of tick infestation and the foals were bled at monthly intervals to determine the incidence of antibodies to B. equi and B. caballi. The incidence of B. equi was 100% by about 127 days of age as determined by IFA of B. caballi was 100% by about 150 days of age as determined by Western blot. Tick infestation of the horses estimated by using a semiquantitative key ranged from at least five ticks on every horse to more than 100 ticks on many horses throughout the year. Except for three Boophilus microplus female ticks, they were identified as Amblyomma cajennense and Anocentor nitens. A. cajennense had one generation per year, whereas An. nitens had three. Kinetes of B. caballi were detected in the haemolymph of two of 68 An. nitens female ticks and in the ovary and eggs of one of these, suggesting that this tick is a significant vector of B. caballi.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Publication Date: 1995-05-01 PubMed ID: 7676590DOI: 10.1016/0304-4017(94)00704-gGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article documents a study on horse diseases known as Babesia equi and B. caballi in a herd of horses in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, highlighting the prevalence of these diseases and the role of tick infestations in their spread.
Study Overview
- The researchers investigated epidemiological aspects of diseases caused by two types of Babesia species, B. equi and B. caballi, those are parasites that affect horses.
- The study was carried out in a herd of 120 pastured horses located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, aiming to understand the scale of these two diseases in the area.
- The research indicated that the area was highly endemic for both types of Babesia, meaning the diseases were common and frequently found there.
Prevalence of Babesia Species
- Using the immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) test, researchers determined that the prevalence of B. equi antibodies in horses 6 months old or older varied from 90.6% to 100%, indicating that these horses were previously exposed to the parasite.
- The Western blot test found the prevalence of B. caballi antibodies within the same age group ranged from 59.4% to 65.5%, also indicating past exposure.
Examining Foals and Tick Infestation
- The study selected 20 foals and their mothers from the herd to estimate the degree of tick infestation and monitor the appearance of antibodies to B. equi and B. caballi.
- It was found that the all foals developed B. equi by around 127 days of age and B. caballi by around 150 days of age.
- The degree of tick infestation was significant, ranging from at least five ticks on every horse to over 100 ticks on many horses throughout the year.
Tick Species and Disease Transmission
- The majority of ticks identified on the horses were Amblyomma cajennense and Anocentor nitens. Only three ticks were identified as Boophilus microplus.
- Each of the tick species had different reproduction cycles with A. cajennense having one generation per year and An. nitens having three.
- B. caballi was detected in the bodily fluid (haemolymph) of two An. nitens ticks and in the ovary and eggs of one of these ticks, indicating this tick species could be a significant vector in the transmission of B. caballi to horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Pfeifer Barbosa I, Böse R, Peymann B, Friedhoff KT.
(1995).
Epidemiological aspects of equine babesioses in a herd of horses in Brazil.
Vet Parasitol, 58(1-2), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(94)00704-g Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Parasitology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Arachnid Vectors / parasitology
- Babesia / immunology
- Babesia / isolation & purification
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- Babesiosis / parasitology
- Brazil / epidemiology
- Female
- Hemolymph / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Incidence
- Male
- Prevalence
- Salivary Glands / parasitology
- Seasons
- Ticks / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Olafson PU, Buckmeier BG, May MA, Thomas DB. Molecular screening for rickettsial bacteria and piroplasms in ixodid ticks surveyed from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and nilgai antelope (Boselaphus tragocamelus) in southern Texas.. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2020 Dec;13:252-260.
- 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.
- Scoles GA, Ueti MW. Amblyomma cajennense is an intrastadial biological vector of Theileria equi.. Parasit Vectors 2013 Oct 23;6(1):306.
- Peckle M, Pires MS, Dos Santos TM, Roier EC, da Silva CB, Vilela JA, Santos HA, Massard CL. Molecular epidemiology of Theileria equi in horses and their association with possible tick vectors in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.. Parasitol Res 2013 May;112(5):2017-25.
- Freitas-Ribeiro GM, Vasconcelos VO, Furlong J, Dolinski C. Evaluation of the efficacy of strains of Steinernema carpocapsae Santa Rosa and ALL (Steinernematidae: Rhabditida) to control engorged female Anocentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae).. Parasitol Res 2009 Apr;104(5):1203-6.
- Fernandes EK, Bittencourt VR. Entomopathogenic fungi against South American tick species.. Exp Appl Acarol 2008 Dec;46(1-4):71-93.
- Heim A, Passos LM, Ribeiro MF, Costa-Júnior LM, Bastos CV, Cabral DD, Hirzmann J, Pfister K. Detection and molecular characterization of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi isolates from endemic areas of Brazil.. Parasitol Res 2007 Dec;102(1):63-8.
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