Exposure to Sarcocystis spp. in horses from Spain determined by Western blot analysis using Sarcocystis neurona merozoites as heterologous antigen.

The research article focuses on studying the presence of Sarcocystis spp. antibodies in horses in the Galicia region of Spain. The research included methods like the Western blot analysis using heterologous antigen and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on specific Sarcocystis neurona-surface antigens. Findings suggested that more than 80% of the horses sampled were exposed to Sarcocystis spp.

Objective of the Research

• The main objective of the research was to determine the presence and prevalence of antibodies against Sarcocystis spp. in horses in the Galicia region of Spain. Sarcocystis spp. are parasites that often infect horses, causing the formation of latent sarcocysts. The infection is usually subclinical but can lead to morbidity when the parasite load is high.

Methodology and Study Sample

• A total of 138 horses were initially sampled for the study. These horses were seemingly healthy and were from different parts of the Galicia region.
• They applied Western blot analyses that used Sarcocystis neurona merozoites as a heterologous antigen to detect the presence of Sarcocystis spp.
• Further, the serum samples from these horses were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) that were based on recombinant S. neurona-specific surface antigens (rSnSAGs).
• An additional 246 horses were examined using the rSnSAG2 ELISA, bringing the total number of sampled horses to 384.

Findings from the Research

• The results from the Western blot analyses demonstrated that over 80% of the horses tested had been exposed to Sarcocystis spp.
• However, as expected from horses in the Eastern Hemisphere, less than 4% of the serum samples were positive when analyzed with either the rSnSAG2 or the rSnSAG4/3 ELISAs.
• When the additional horses were tested using the rSnSAG2 ELISA, less than 3% of the 384 samples were seropositive.
• Significantly, the study found that the anti-Sarcocystis seroreactivity in European horses could be clearly distinguished from anti-S. neurona antibodies using the rSnSAG2 and rSnSAG4/3 ELISAs.