Haemato-biochemical characterization of equine piroplasmosis asymptomatic carriers and seropositive, real-time PCR negative horses.

The study investigates the blood and biochemical changes in horses that display no symptoms of Equine Piroplasmosis (harmful disease caused by parasites) but still carry the disease or test positive to the antibodies. This research tests the potential markers in blood and biochemical content that could help identify carriers. However, distinctions between PCR negative yet antibody positive individuals and the true disease carriers prove challenging.

Objective of Study

• The research aims to understand the changes in the blood and biochemical components of horses that carry asymptomatic Equine Piroplasmosis, or those that test negative in a real-time PCR test but positive in an antibody test.
• The investigation attempts to find potential markers in these components that can aid in identifying true carriers of the disease alongside molecular and serological tests.

Methods &mash; Sample Collection and Analysis

• The study examined a comprehensive haematology and biochemistry profile of a total of 410 blood and serum samples. This encompassed 130 true disease carriers, 130 horses that were real-time PCR negatives but tested positive in competitive ELISA, and 150 horses that tested negative in both tests.

Findings

• The research confirmed that a complete haematology and biochemistry profile could help distinguish between healthy horses and both categories of disease-affected horses.
• Both categories of disease-affected horses showed significant increases in the white blood cell count, high total protein content and globulin concentration, and liver function markers when compared to completely healthy horses.
• The research also suggested that high uric acid in blood could mean oxidative stress in disease carriers. However, no surefire markers were identified that could tell apart true disease carriers from horses that tested negative in PCR testing but positive in ELISA.

Conclusion

• The study ends with the requirement for improved molecular and serological diagnostic methods for a certain type of horse results – those that test negative in real-time PCR but positive in ELISA and hence can’t be categorized as true disease carriers or completely healthy.