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First detection of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in horses and donkeys in Italy.
Abstract: Among Apicomplexa protozoa infecting equids, Besnoitia spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. represent important issues from a sanitary and zootechnical viewpoint. However, only scarce epidemiological data are available on the spread of the infections in horses and donkeys in Europe. Therefore, a serosurvey was planned to estimate the prevalence of these Sarcocystidae species in Italian equids. Serum samples from 268 horses and 18 donkeys raised in Italy were collected and serologically analyzed to detect anti-Besnoitia spp., anti-T. gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies: an approach based on an initial screening by in-house ELISA followed by a confirmatory WB was used. Two horses (0.7%) and four donkeys (22.2%), showed antibodies anti-Besnoitia spp. Ten horses (3.7%) resulted positive to T. gondii and one of these (0.4%) was seropositive also to Neospora spp. This is the first detection of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in Italian horses and donkeys. The study confirmed the circulation of Besnoitia spp. among equids in Europe. Low prevalence of T. gondii and Neospora spp. in horses raised in Italy was reported. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy to consider that consumption of horse meat could represent a source for human toxoplasmosis.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-06-20 PubMed ID: 29935266DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2018.06.008Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research was conducted to establish the prevalence of specific antibodies in horses and donkeys in Italy, representing the first such detection. The focus was on antibodies related to parasitic infections commonly found in these animals, including Besnoitia spp., Toxoplasma gondii, and Neospora spp.
Research Objectives and Methods
- The primary goal of the study was to estimate the prevalence of Sarcocystidae species infections in Italian equids, specifically targeting horses and donkeys. This involved detecting antibodies which were specific to the Besnoitia spp., T. gondii, and Neospora spp. parasites.
- The method implemented an initial screening through an in-house ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) to identify the presence of relevant antibodies. Once the ELISA identified potential positives, a follow-up confirmatory WB (Western Blot) test was conducted.
- Serum samples were collected from a total of 268 horse and 18 donkeys, all raised within Italy.
Research Findings
- Two horses (representing 0.7% of the horse samples) showed anti-Besnoitia spp. antibodies. These were the first known detections of such antibodies in horses in Italy.
- Four donkeys (representing 22.2% of the donkey samples) also displayed antibodies indicative of a Besnoitia spp. presence. These were also the first known detections in donkeys in Italy.
- Ten horses (representing 3.7% of the horse samples) tested positive for T. gondii. Of these, one (or 0.4%) also tested positive for Neospora spp.
Significance of the Findings and Future Implications
- The study confirms the circulation of the Besnoitia spp. infections among equids within Europe, hinting towards broader geographical expansion of these infections.
- The prevalence of T. gondii and Neospora spp. in horses raised in Italy was found to be low.
- Despite the low prevalence, the research highlights that the consumption of horse meat could potentially be a source of human toxoplasmosis, a potentially harmful disease that can be passed from animals to humans.
- The findings underline the importance of continued monitoring and research in order to track the spread and prevalence of such infections and reduce the potential for zoonotic transmission.
Cite This Article
APA
Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Álvarez-García G, Diezma-Díaz C, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT.
(2018).
First detection of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in horses and donkeys in Italy.
Parasitol Int, 67(5), 640-643.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2018.06.008 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: luca.villa@unimi.it.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: alessia.gazzonis@unimi.it.
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: gemaga@vet.ucm.es.
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: sergio.zanzani@unimi.it.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy. Electronic address: mariateresa.manfredi@unimi.it.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Coccidiosis / immunology
- Coccidiosis / veterinary
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Equidae / parasitology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses / parasitology
- Italy
- Neospora / immunology
- Sarcocystidae / immunology
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Toxoplasma / immunology
- Toxoplasmosis, Animal / immunology
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Berman N, Tirosh-Levy S, Steinman A, Minderigiu A, Blinder E, Leszkowicz Mazuz M. First Detection of Anti-Besnoitia spp. Antibodies in Equids in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Microorganisms 2023 Apr 3;11(4).
- Malatji MP, Tembe D, Mukaratirwa S. An update on epidemiology and clinical aspects of besnoitiosis in livestock and wildlife in sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2023 May;21:e00284.
- Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Allievi C, De Maria C, Persichetti MF, Caracappa G, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Infections in Horses from Northern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 12;12(8).
- Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Fumagalli E, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. The Utility of Serological Analysis for Neospora caninum Infection in Dairy Cattle Farms Management: Serological Investigation and Evaluation of the Effects on Reproductive and Productive Performances in Two Study Herds in Northern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 20;12(6).
- Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Allievi C, Zanzani SA, Mortarino M, Manfredi MT. Prevalence of Neospora caninum antibodies in fattening pigs and sows from intensive farms in northern Italy. Parasitol Res 2022 Mar;121(3):1033-1040.
- Gazzonis AL, Villa L, Lubian E, Ressegotti S, Grilli G, Raimondi S, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. Molecular Survey on Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum Infection in Wild Birds of Prey Admitted to Recovery Centers in Northern Italy. Microorganisms 2021 Apr 1;9(4).
- Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Diezma-Diaz C, Perlotti C, Zanzani SA, Ferrucci F, Álvarez-García G, Manfredi MT. Besnoitiosis in donkeys: an emerging parasitic disease of equids in Italy. Parasitol Res 2021 May;120(5):1811-1819.
- Gazzonis AL, Bertero F, Moretta I, Morganti G, Mortarino M, Villa L, Zanzani SA, Morandi B, Rinnovati R, Vitale F, Manfredi MT, Cardoso L, Veronesi F. Detecting antibodies to Leishmania infantum in horses from areas with different epizooticity levels of canine leishmaniosis and a retrospective revision of Italian data. Parasit Vectors 2020 Oct 22;13(1):530.
- Elsheikha HM, Schares G, Paraschou G, Sullivan R, Fox R. First record of besnoitiosis caused by Besnoitia bennetti in donkeys from the UK. Parasit Vectors 2020 Jun 3;13(1):279.
- Gazzonis A, Villa L, Manfredi M, Zanzani S. Spatial Analysis of Infections by Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum (Protozoa: Apicomplexa) in Small Ruminants in Northern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2019 Nov 4;9(11).
- Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Zanzani SA, Perlotti C, Sironi G, Manfredi MT. Bovine besnoitiosis in an endemically infected dairy cattle herd in Italy: serological and clinical observations, risk factors, and effects on reproductive and productive performances. Parasitol Res 2019 Dec;118(12):3459-3468.
- Tinkler SH, Villa L, Manfredi MT, Walshe N, Jahns H. First report of Besnoitia bennetti in Irish donkeys: an emerging parasitic disease in Europe. Ir Vet J 2024 Feb 14;77(1):2.
- Villa L, Allievi C, Gazzonis AL, Ventura G, Gradassi M, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. Serological Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) Hunted in a Highly Anthropized Area in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 23;13(11).
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