Equine cestodosis: a sero-epidemiological study of Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in Ethiopia.
Abstract: A 12/13 kDa antigen, tapeworm ELISA test, developed for use in horses, was used to detect parasite-specific serum antibody, IgG(T), in the serum of donkeys. In a pilot study the 12/13 kDa antigen was tested and proved to detect the antibody, IgG(T), in donkey sera. Blood samples from 797 donkeys, naturally exposed to cestode infection, from four geographical localities were collected and sera were prepared and analysed. There was substantial serological evidence that donkeys were potentially infected with A. perfoliata. A range of ELISA OD values were obtained from the serological assay. Over 26% and 7.5% of the donkeys were moderately and highly infected, respectively, showing at least a 34% sero-prevalence. The rest, 66.1%, were either with low infection intensity or negative for A. perfoliata infection. The risk of infections, both in sero-prevalence and intensity, as determined by ELISA optical density (OD), were highest in the highland areas of Ethiopia where pastures are low-lying and wet, and permanent pasture management is regularly practised. Sex, age and body condition of the donkeys had no significant effect either on prevalence of the infection or on the serum antibody level. These results indicate a risk of intestinal disorders, particularly, colic, associated with A. perfoliata infection in donkeys.
Publication Date: 2012-02-02 PubMed ID: 22294318DOI: 10.1007/s11259-012-9516-zGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Animal Health
- Animal Studies
- Antibodies
- Blood
- Blood Analysis
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Prevalence
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Horses
- Immunoglobulin G
- In Vivo
- Infection
- Parasites
- Public Health
- Risk Factors
- Serodiagnosis
- Serology
- Seroprevalence
- Tapeworms
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
- Veterinary Science
Summary
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The research article focuses on a sero-epidemiological study investigating infection rates of Anoplocephala perfoliata (a type of tapeworm) in donkeys in Ethiopia. The study shows a significant percentage of the donkey population are potentially infected, with risk factors including geographical location and pasture management practices, not age, sex or body condition.
Research Methodology
- The researchers utilized a 12/13 kDa antigen specifically designed for horses to detect the IgG(T) antibody (specific to the tapeworm species) in donkey blood samples. The use of this test was first validated in a pilot study.
- Blood samples were collected from 797 donkeys naturally exposed to cestode infection from across four different geographic regions in Ethiopia. The sera (the liquid part of the blood) were then prepared and analyzed using the ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test.
Results
- The test results provided substantial serological evidence indicating a potential A. perfoliata infection in the sampled donkeys. Serology is the scientific study of serum, which includes testing for the presence of antibodies specific to certain diseases or parasites.
- ELISA OD (optical density) values derived from the serological assay indicated the extent of infection. Approximately 26% of donkeys were found to be moderately infected, while around 7.5% were highly infected, pointing to an overall sero-prevalence of at least 34%.
- About 66.1% of the tested donkeys displayed a low infection intensity or were entirely negative for A. perfoliata infection.
Risk Factors and Implications
- The infection prevalence and intensity were highest in the highland regions of Ethiopia, where the pastures are often wet and low-lying, and permanent pasture management is typical.
- Factors like the sex, age, and body condition of the donkeys had no significant impact on the infection prevalence or the serum antibody level.
- The findings highlight the potential risk of intestinal disorders in donkeys associated with A. perfoliata infection, in particular, colic, which is severe abdominal discomfort.
Cite This Article
APA
Getachew AM, Innocent G, Proudman CJ, Trawford A, Feseha G, Reid SW, Faith B, Love S.
(2012).
Equine cestodosis: a sero-epidemiological study of Anoplocephala perfoliata infection in Ethiopia.
Vet Res Commun, 36(2), 93-98.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-012-9516-z Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Animal Production and Public Health Comparative Epidemiology and Informatics Institute of Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Veterinary School, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK. m.getachew06@yahoo.co.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cestoda / classification
- Cestode Infections / blood
- Cestode Infections / epidemiology
- Cestode Infections / veterinary
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Equidae
- Ethiopia / epidemiology
- Female
- Male
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
References
This article includes 33 references
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