Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis in the Czech Republic.

The research article discusses the occurrence of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA), a horse disease caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, in the Czech Republic over a period of 6 years (2002-2008). It highlights the frequent clinical abnormalities, diagnostic methods, and different genetic variants of the bacteria observed in the country.

Study of EGA in the Czech Republic

The research paper presents the results of a study carried out in the Czech Republic from 2002-2008, where 12 confirmed and 5 suspected cases of EGA were detected. The diagnosis made based on:

• Clinical signs exhibited by the horses
• Detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum morulae (bacterial clusters) in neutrophils in blood smears
• Serology (a blood test that looks for specific antibodies to fight the bacteria)
• Molecular methods (DNA based tests)

Common Clinical Symptoms

The most common clinical symptoms observed in the horses afflicted with EGA included:

• High fever, ranging from 39.8 to 41.3 degrees Celsius
• Depression
• Partial or complete loss of appetite
• Limb oedema (swelling caused by the buildup of fluid)
• Icterus or jaundice, evident by a yellow discoloration of the skin due to elevated bilirubin levels in the blood

Haematological Examination Findings

The research highlighted that all horses diagnosed with EGA displayed thrombocytopenia, a condition marked by low levels of platelets in the blood. Five of the horses also showed signs of mild anaemia and leucopenia, which is a decrease in the number of white blood cells.

Antibody Response

The study found that several horses showed high levels of specific antibodies immediately after the onset of the disease, indicating that these animals had been exposed to A phagocytophilum before.

Genotyping of A phagocytophilum

The researchers also conducted genotyping of the A phagocytophilum strains found in the affected horses. They identified two genetic variants, with differences in the sequence of the ank gene in the bacterium, existing in the Czech Republic during the period of the study.