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Haemato-biochemical characterization of equine piroplasmosis asymptomatic carriers and seropositive, real-time PCR negative horses.
Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, transmitted by tick vectors. Horses can suffer an acute, subacute, and chronic forms of the disease, with clinical signs such as poor performance, fever, pale mucosal membranes, and jaundice. The diagnosis of EP subclinical cases is complex due to the sensitivity of real-time PCR and the limited parasite load in some carriers, making it challenging to differentiate them from seropositive, PCR negative (S+PCR-) individuals. This study aimed to describe haematological and biochemical changes in asymptomatic EP carriers, EP S+PCR- horses and control horses (EP seronegative and PCR negative). It also investigated potential haemato-biochemical markers to aid in distinguishing true EP carriers alongside molecular and serological tests. A comprehensive haematology and biochemistry profile was conducted on 410 sera and EDTA blood samples, comprising 130 EP positives by real-time PCR and competitive ELISA (cELISA) (carriers), 130 EP negatives by real-time PCR but positive to cELISA (S+PCR-) and 150 EP negative horses to real-time PCR and c-ELISA (controls). Our study confirmed that a haematological and biochemistry profile could help to differentiate between EP carriers/S+PCR- from healthy horses. Carriers and S+PCR- horses showed significant increases in the white blood cell count (WBC), high total proteins (TP) and total globulins (GLOB) concentration, and liver function markers compared to controls. Additionally, the evaluation of uric acid (UA) suggested oxidative stress in carrier horses. However, no useful haemato-biochemical diagnostic markers were identified to aid the challenging differentiation of EP carriers and S+PCR- horses, highlighting the need for improvement in molecular/serological diagnosis for these horses.
Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2023-10-05 PubMed ID: 37826971DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110046Google 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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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.
Cite This Article
APA
Dorrego A, Camino E, Gago P, Buendia-Andres A, Acurio K, Gonzalez S, de Juan L, Cruz-Lopez F.
(2023).
Haemato-biochemical characterization of equine piroplasmosis asymptomatic carriers and seropositive, real-time PCR negative horses.
Vet Parasitol, 323, 110046.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110046 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
- Diagnostica Stago S.L.U., Barcelona, Spain.
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; Animal Health Department, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain; Animal Health Department, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
- VISAVET Health Surveillance Centre, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: fatimacr@ucm.es.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Eliazar Camino reports financial support was provided by Complutense University of Madrid. Eliazar Camino reports a relationship with Complutense University of Madrid that includes: funding grants.
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