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Transboundary and emerging diseases2019; 67 Suppl 2; 100-105; doi: 10.1111/tbed.13268

Factors associated with the prevalence of antibodies against Theileria equi in equids of Western Pará, Brazil.

Abstract: The State of Pará has one of the largest herds of equids (horse, donkey and mule) in Brazil, most of these animals are found on cattle farms. Equine theileriosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the parasite Theileria equi and is characterized by fever, anaemia, icterus, intravascular haemolysis, haemoglobinuria, spleen and hepatomegaly, and even death. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibodies against T. equi in equids in the western region of the State of Pará, Brazil, and to identify potential risk factors associated with parasite infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted with cluster sampling of farm horses from 18 municipalities. In the cities visited, samples from sport and carthorses were also included. Serum was obtained to detect T. equi-specific antibodies using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) based on a crude parasite antigen. In order to identify possible risk factors of the infection which are associated with the prevalence of antibodies, a chi-squared test was carried out. Of 1,117 equids, 373 tested positive for T. equi antibodies with an overall prevalence of 33.4% (31.3%-37.0% for the 95% confidence interval). Sex, animal species and breed were found not to be associated with the presence of T. equi antibodies, whereas age, the presence of dogs or ticks were associated with seropositivity (p < 0.05). Horses with ticks were 2.4 more likely seropositive than horses without ticks. The presence of dogs in the equid habitat and the presence of ticks resulted in a higher T. equi seropositive rate probably because dogs are hosts for vector ticks of T. equi. Our study represents the first report of T. equi antibodies in equids of western Pará revealing a widespread distribution of seropositive animals.
© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2019-07-08 PubMed ID: 31286674DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13268Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the prevalent occurrence of a parasite-caused disease, Theileria equi, in horses and similar species in western Pará, Brazil. The presence of antibodies and its relationships with various factors such as age, the presence of ticks or dogs was also studied.

Study Purpose and Design

  • The main aim of this research was to ascertain the incidence of a disease caused by the parasite Theileria equi in horses and similar species (donkeys and mules) in the region of western Pará, Brazil. The study also sought to identify any possible risk factors which could be linked with this parasitic infection.
  • In the execution of the research, a cross-sectional study was utilized. This involved random sampling of horses from various farms in 18 municipalities. Samples were also collected from sport and carthorses in these areas for a more comprehensive insight.

Methodology

  • Serum was gathered from the selected equids to detect the presence of Theileria equi-specific antibodies. This was performed using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) based on a crude parasite antigen.
  • A chi-squared test was carried out to identify any possible risk factors related to the antibodies’ prevalence, hence providing a measure of the prevalent infection.

Results and Findings

  • Out of the 1,117 equids that were subjected to the tests, 373 were found to be positive for Theileria equi antibodies. This amounted to an overall prevalence of approximately 33.4%.
  • Factors such as the sex, species, and breed of the equids were not found to be linked with the presence of Theileria equi antibodies.
  • However, the age of the equid, as well as the presence of dogs or ticks, were found to have a significant correlation with the presence of these antibodies. In particular, horses that had ticks were found to be 2.4 times more likely to be seropositive compared to those without ticks.
  • The presence of dogs in the equid habitat and ticks were proposed to result in a higher Theileria equi seropositive rate, as dogs can host vector ticks of Theileria equi.
  • This research was notable as the first to report the antibodies of Theileria equi in equids in western Pará, revealing a wide distribution of seropositive animals.

Cite This Article

APA
Minervino AHH, Torres AC, Moreira TR, Vinholte BP, Sampaio BM, Bianchi D, Portela JM, Sarturi C, Marcili A, Barrêto Júnior RA, Gennari SM, Machado RZ. (2019). Factors associated with the prevalence of antibodies against Theileria equi in equids of Western Pará, Brazil. Transbound Emerg Dis, 67 Suppl 2, 100-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/tbed.13268

Publication

Transboundary and emerging diseases
ISSN: 1865-1682
NlmUniqueID: 101319538
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 67 Suppl 2
Pages: 100-105

Researcher Affiliations

Minervino, Antonio Humberto Hamad
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Rua Vera Paz s/n, 68040-255, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, USP. Av. Prof. Orlando M. Paiva 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
Torres, Allana Cavalcante
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Rua Vera Paz s/n, 68040-255, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
Moreira, Thiago Rocha
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Rua Vera Paz s/n, 68040-255, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
Vinholte, Brena Peleja
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Rua Vera Paz s/n, 68040-255, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
  • University Center of the Amazon (UNAMA), Rua Rosa Vermelha 335, 68010-200, Santarém, Brazil.
Sampaio, Bruna Matarucco
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, USP. Av. Prof. Orlando M. Paiva 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
Bianchi, Daniela
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Rua Vera Paz s/n, 68040-255, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
Portela, Juliana Machado
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Rua Vera Paz s/n, 68040-255, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
Sarturi, Cristiane
  • Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Rua Vera Paz s/n, 68040-255, Santarém, Pará, Brazil.
Marcili, Arlei
  • Masters program in Medicine and Animal Welfare, Santo Amaro University, Av. Prof. Eneas de Siqueira Neto 340, 04529-300, São Paulo, Brazil.
Barrêto Júnior, Raimundo Alvês
  • Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid, UFERSA, Av. Francisco Mota s/n, 59625-900, Mossoró, Brazil.
Gennari, Solange Maria
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, USP. Av. Prof. Orlando M. Paiva 87, 05508-270, São Paulo, Brazil.
  • Masters program in Medicine and Animal Welfare, Santo Amaro University, Av. Prof. Eneas de Siqueira Neto 340, 04529-300, São Paulo, Brazil.
Machado, Rosangela Zacarias
  • Department of Veterinary Pathology, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Acesso Prof. Paulo D. Castellane s/n, 14884-900, Jaboticabal, Brazil.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Equidae / parasitology
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Theileria / immunology
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis / parasitology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / parasitology
  • Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary
  • Ticks / parasitology

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Cardenas NC, Sanchez F, Lopes FPN, Machado G. Coupling spatial statistics with social network analysis to estimate distinct risk areas of disease circulation to improve risk-based surveillance. Transbound Emerg Dis 2022 Sep;69(5):e2757-e2768.
    doi: 10.1111/tbed.14627pubmed: 35694801google scholar: lookup
  2. Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Fry LM, Knowles DP, Steinman A. Twenty Years of Equine Piroplasmosis Research: Global Distribution, Molecular Diagnosis, and Phylogeny. Pathogens 2020 Nov 8;9(11).
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens9110926pubmed: 33171698google scholar: lookup
  3. Hacilarlioglu S, Bilgic HB, Karagenc T, Aydin HB, Toker H, Kanlioglu H, Pekagirbas M, Bakirci S. Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Equine Piroplasmosis and Other Blood Parasites in Equids of Western Aegean Türkiye. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 27;12(9).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090826pubmed: 41012752google scholar: lookup
  4. Picanço EMB, Assis FFV, Peleja PL, Sousa ABB, Barrêto Júnior RA, Lima RF, Neves KAL, Minervino AHH. Risk Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Antibodies Against Brucellosis in Equids from Western Pará, Brazil. Microorganisms 2025 Jun 30;13(7).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13071525pubmed: 40732034google scholar: lookup
  5. Bianchi D, Santos RRD, Peleja PL, de Sousa ABB, da Silva Evangelista M, de Almeida Júnior JS, Barata LES, Moraes WP, Minervino AHH. The Industrial Residue of Andiroba (Carapa sp.): A Promising Source of Natural Acaricides Against Dermacentor nitens (Acari: Ixodidae). Vet Sci 2025 Apr 29;12(5).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12050421pubmed: 40431515google scholar: lookup
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