Epidemiology of equine histoplasmosis (epizootic lymphangitis) in carthorses in Ethiopia.
Abstract: A study was conducted between January 2003 and June 2004 on 19,082 carthorses in 28 towns in Ethiopia to investigate the epidemiology of equine histoplasmosis (EH). Clinical and microscopic examinations were used and an overall prevalence of 18.8% (3579/19082) was recorded. Statistically significant (P<0.001) differences was observed in the average prevalence with high, medium, and low prevalence categories. The highest prevalence (39%) was recorded at Mojo while the lowest (0.0%) was recorded at five towns, namely, Agaro, Bokoji, Debre Berhan, Dinsho, and Sagure. The prevalence of EH was not associated (R=0.08, F=0.15, P=0.71) with the mean annual rainfall but was associated (R=0.64, F=11.5, P<0.01) with the average annual temperature. Statistically significant (R=0.57, F=12.34, P<0.01) association was observed between the altitude of the study towns and the prevalence of EH. Moreover, the number of cases of EH increased significantly (R=0.88, F=90.9, P<0.001) with the horse population in the towns. In general, EH was prevalent in hot and humid towns with an altitude ranging from 1500m above sea level (asl) to 2300masl but was nil or low in cold and in dry and windy towns. It was concluded that EH is prevalent in Ethiopia and warrants the initiation of a control strategy.
Publication Date: 2006-06-15 PubMed ID: 16772141DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.02.025Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research studied the prevalence and influencing factors of equine histoplasmosis, a fungal infection in horses, across different towns in Ethiopia. It concluded that the occurrence of the disease is high and related to factors including altitude, temperature, and horse population size in the towns.
Research Scope and Methodology
- The research was conducted from January 2003 to June 2004.
- Around 19,082 carthorses in 28 towns across Ethiopia were studied to determine the incidence of equine histoplasmosis (EH).
- The presence of EH was ascertained using clinical and microscopic examinations.
Observations and Results
- The researchers found an overall prevalence of 18.8% of EH among the studied population.
- Significant differences were observed in the average prevalence with high, medium, and low prevalence categories.
- The highest prevalence of EH (39%) was found in Mojo, while no cases were recorded in five towns: Agaro, Bokoji, Debre Berhan, Dinsho, and Sagure.
Connecting Disease Occurrence and Environmental Factors
- The occurrence of EH was not directly associated with the mean annual rainfall, suggesting that precipitation does not significantly influence the spread or manifestation of this disease.
- However, statistically significant associations were recorded between the average annual temperature and the prevalence of EH, meaning that warmer climates could potentially foster the disease.
- Similarly, the altitude of the study towns also showed a significant association with EH occurrence. Generally, towns located between 1500m and 2300m above sea level recorded higher instances of EH.
- The horse population size in the towns was also noted to significantly impact the number of EH cases, with an increase in the horse population relating to a rise in EH instances.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- The study concluded that EH is widespread in Ethiopia, particularly in hot, humid locations and towns with larger horse populations.
- The researchers suggest that these findings call for the initiation of strategic control methods to manage and mitigate the spread of EH in affected locations.
Cite This Article
APA
Ameni G.
(2006).
Epidemiology of equine histoplasmosis (epizootic lymphangitis) in carthorses in Ethiopia.
Vet J, 172(1), 160-165.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.02.025 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. gobenaameni@yahoo.com
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Fungal / blood
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
- Ethiopia / epidemiology
- Female
- Histoplasma / immunology
- Histoplasma / isolation & purification
- Histoplasmosis / epidemiology
- Histoplasmosis / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Male
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Molla AM, Jemberu WT, Fentahun T. Prevalence and risk factors of epizootic lymphangitis in cart pulling horses and mules in Central and South Gondar zones, Amhara region, Ethiopia.. Heliyon 2022 Aug;8(8):e09939.
- Ameni G, Messele Kebede A, Zewude A, Girma Abdulla M, Asfaw R, Gobena MM, Kyalo M, Stomeo F, Gumi B, Sori T. Equine Histoplasmosis in Ethiopia: Phylogenetic Analysis by Sequencing of the Internal Transcribed Spacer Region of rRNA Genes.. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022;12:789157.
- Ocansey BK, Kosmidis C, Agyei M, Dorkenoo AM, Ayanlowo OO, Oladele RO, Darre T, Denning DW. Histoplasmosis in Africa: Current perspectives, knowledge gaps, and research priorities.. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022 Feb;16(2):e0010111.
- Abdela MG, Teshale S, Gobena MM, Zewde A, Jaleta H, Gumi B, Ameni G. Epidemiology of Epizootic Lymphangitis Among Carthorses in Ethiopia.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:762937.
- Duguma BE, Tesfaye T, Kassaye A, Kassa A, Blakeway SJ. Control and Prevention of Epizootic Lymphangitis in Mules: An Integrated Community-Based Intervention, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:648267.
- Molla AM, Fentahun T, Jemberu WT. Estimating the Economic Impact and Assessing Owners' Knowledge and Practices of Epizootic Lymphangitis in Equine Cart Animals in Central and South Gondar Zones, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:673442.
- Hadush B, Michaelay M, Menghistu HT, Abebe N, Genzebu AT, Bitsue HK, Afera B, Duguma BE, Gugsa G, Ameni G. Epidemiology of epizootic lymphangitis of carthorses in northern Ethiopia using conventional diagnostic methods and nested polymerase chain reaction.. BMC Vet Res 2020 Oct 7;16(1):375.
- Oladele RO, Ayanlowo OO, Richardson MD, Denning DW. Histoplasmosis in Africa: An emerging or a neglected disease?. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2018 Jan;12(1):e0006046.
- Scantlebury CE, Pinchbeck GL, Loughnane P, Aklilu N, Ashine T, Stringer AP, Gordon L, Marshall M, Christley RM, McCarthy AJ. Development and Evaluation of a Molecular Diagnostic Method for Rapid Detection of Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum, the Causative Agent of Epizootic Lymphangitis, in Equine Clinical Samples.. J Clin Microbiol 2016 Dec;54(12):2990-2999.
- Ali A, Orion S, Tesfaye T, Zambriski JA. The prevalence of lameness and associated risk factors in cart mules in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.. Trop Anim Health Prod 2016 Oct;48(7):1483-9.
- Stringer AP, Christley RM, Bell CE, Gebreab F, Tefera G, Reed K, Trawford A, Pinchbeck GL. Owner reported diseases of working equids in central Ethiopia.. Equine Vet J 2017 Jul;49(4):501-506.
- Mekonnen N, Makonnen E, Aklilu N, Ameni G. Evaluation of berries of Phytolacca dodecandra for growth inhibition of Histoplasma capsulatum var. farciminosum and treatment of cases of epizootic lymphangitis in Ethiopia.. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed 2012 Jul;2(7):505-10.
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