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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Horses infected by Piroplasms different from Babesia caballi...
Veterinary parasitology2017; 236; 38-41; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.01.003

Horses infected by Piroplasms different from Babesia caballi and Theileria equi: species identification and risk factors analysis in Italy.

Abstract: Equine Piroplasmosis (EP) caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi is a disease affecting the health and the international movement of horses. In order to assess prevalence of Piroplasmid infection in the Northwestern part of Italy and to evaluate the associated risk factors, whole blood was collected from 135 horses from 7 different stables across the study area. PCR and sequencing were used to assess prevalence of infection and to identify detected Piroplasms to species level. A total of 23 horses (P=17.04%; CI95%: 10.70-23.38%) was found to be infected with Piroplasms and T. equi was the most prevalent species, found in 18 animals (P=13.33%; CI95%: 7.60%-19.07%). Although B. caballi was never detected, the presence of parasites belonging to the genus Babesia was confirmed by sequencing in 5 horses, 3 of which were infected with B. canis (P=2.22%; CI95% 0.76%-6.33%), and 2 with B. capreoli (P=1.48%; CI95% 0.41%-5.24%). The natural reservoir hosts of B. canis and B. capreoli are the domestic dog and roe deer Capreolus capreolus respectively. These findings pose attention to the need of considering in future epidemiological and clinical studies, other Apicomplexan species as able to infect horses.
Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2017-01-11 PubMed ID: 28288762DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.01.003Google 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 investigates the prevalence and types of Piroplasmid infections in horses in Northwest Italy, indicating that besides Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, other species from the genus Babesia were found. The study underscores the need for further research on other potentially infectious species.

Objective of the study

  • The study was designed to ascertain the prevalence of Piroplasmid infection in horses in the Northwestern region of Italy, and evaluate the risk factors associated with this infection. The study also aimed to identify Piroplasm species causing the infection.

Methodology

  • The researchers collected whole blood samples from 135 horses across 7 different stables in the study area. They used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing to determine the prevalence of the infection and to identify the Piroplasm species involved.

Results

  • A total of 23 horses out of the 135 (17.04%) were found to be infected with Piroplasms, with T. equi being the most prevalent, found in 18 animals (point prevalence of 13.33%).
  • Despite the common occurrence of B. caballi in such infections, this species was not found in any of the samples in this study. However, the study did find parasites belonging to the Babesia genus in 5 horses; three of these horses were infected with B. canis (with a prevalence of 2.22%), and two were infected with B. capreoli (prevalence of 1.48%).
  • The natural reservoir hosts of the species B. canis and B. capreoli were found to be the domestic dog and roe deer Capreolus capreolus respectively.

Implications of the study

  • The findings of the study indicate a high occurrence of the Piroplasmid infection in the horses and a presence of species apart from the most commonly known Theileria equi and Babesia caballi.
  • Based on these findings, the authors suggest the need for more comprehensive epidemiological and clinical studies in the future, to consider other Apicomplexan species that might infect horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Zanet S, Bassano M, Trisciuoglio A, Taricco I, Ferroglio E. (2017). Horses infected by Piroplasms different from Babesia caballi and Theileria equi: species identification and risk factors analysis in Italy. Vet Parasitol, 236, 38-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.01.003

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 236
Pages: 38-41
PII: S0304-4017(17)30003-1

Researcher Affiliations

Zanet, Stefania
  • University of Turin, Dept. of Veterinary Sciences, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, To, Italy.
Bassano, Marina
  • University of Turin, Dept. of Veterinary Sciences, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, To, Italy.
Trisciuoglio, Anna
  • University of Turin, Dept. of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, To, Italy.
Taricco, Ivo
  • University of Turin, Dept. of Veterinary Sciences, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, To, Italy.
Ferroglio, Ezio
  • University of Turin, Dept. of Veterinary Sciences, Largo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, To, Italy. Electronic address: ezio.ferroglio@unito.it.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia / classification
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesia / isolation & purification
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / genetics
  • Risk Factors
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / veterinary
  • Theileria / classification
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Theileria / isolation & purification
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis / parasitology

Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
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