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In vitro cultivation of Babesia equi: detection of carrier animals and isolation of parasites.
Abstract: By means of an in vitro culture technique, 75 samples of horse blood were examined for Babesia equi, a causative agent of equine piroplasmosis. At the time of culture initiation, 15 samples were microscopically positive for B. equi, and this was subsequently confirmed by culture diagnosis. Sixty samples showed no parasites in Giemsa-stained thin blood smears. However, after the culturing process, parasites were found in blood smears of 36 of these samples. The sensitivity of the in vitro culture method was such that 2.5 microliters (1/40 of the usual volume used for the above-mentioned samples) of packed erythrocytes obtained from a carrier horse still yielded positive results after cultivation. Cultures were initiated from blood samples stored for up to 120 h at 8 degrees C in vacuum tubes containing EDTA as anticoagulant. These results show that the in vitro culture method is highly sensitive. It can be used to identify B. equi carrier horses, to evaluate the effects of chemotherapeutic intervention, and to isolate field strains of B. equi for further characterization.
Publication Date: 1997-03-01 PubMed ID: 9204504 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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.
The research paper discusses an in vitro study to identify carrier animals of the Babesia equi parasite, which causes equine piroplasmosis in horses. Using this technique, they were also effective in isolating the parasites in the blood samples collected.
About the Research
- The research focuses on the in vitro testing of samples of horse blood to detect and isolate Babesia equi, the parasite causing equine piroplasmosis (a disease that affects the red blood cells in horses).
- 75 samples of horse blood were studied using in vitro culture technique. The research team sought to confirm which samples were microscopically positive for B. equi at the time of culture initiation for the first group of 15 samples.
- In vitro cultivation was used as it provides a controlled environment for studying the behavior of the parasite in the blood samples.
Findings of the Study
- Even though Giemsa-stained thin blood smears showed no visible parasites for 60 out of the 75 samples, the culturing process revealed the presence of B. equi in more than half of the unstained samples (36 samples).
- Among the noteworthy observations was the high sensitivity of the in vitro culture method. This sensitivity extends to the extent that 2.5 microliters of packed erythrocytes, a fraction of the volume ordinarily used, still managed to yield positive results after cultivation.
- The researchers even initiated cultures from vacuum tubes containing EDTA as anticoagulant with blood samples stored at 8 degrees C for up to 120 hours. The results were highly promising, affirming the sensitivity of this method.
Significance of the Findings
- The research shows that the in vitro culture method is sensitive and effective in detecting B. equi carrier horses.
- This method can be used not only to detect carrier horses but also to assess the effects of chemotherapeutic interventions.
- Moreover, it is useful in isolating field strains of B. equi from the carrier horses for further study and understanding of B. equi characteristics.
Cite This Article
APA
Zweygarth E, Just MC, De Waal DT.
(1997).
In vitro cultivation of Babesia equi: detection of carrier animals and isolation of parasites.
Onderstepoort J Vet Res, 64(1), 51-56.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Protozoology Division, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesia / isolation & purification
- Babesiosis / blood
- Babesiosis / diagnosis
- Carrier State
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Malik R, Maharana BR, Ganguly A, Vohra S, Kumar B, Kumar A, Singh H, Potliya S, Khanna S, Sahu S. Molecular Epidemiology and Genotypic Diversity of Theileria annulata among Bovines Based Upon Tams1 Gene in India. Acta Parasitol 2025 Apr 3;70(2):81.
- Nardini R, Bartolomé Del Pino LE, Cersini A, Manna G, Viola MR, Antognetti V, Autorino GL, Scicluna MT. Comparison of PCR-based methods for the detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in field samples collected in Central Italy. Parasitol Res 2021 Jun;120(6):2157-2164.
- Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 May 16;16(10).
- Lu Y, Guan G, Jiang T, Li Y, Yang J, Liu G, Luo J, Yin H, Liu Z. Development of an immunochromatographic strip for the serodiagnosis of Theileria infection in sheep. Parasit Vectors 2015 Dec 2;8:621.
- Mans BJ, Pienaar R, Latif AA. A review of Theileria diagnostics and epidemiology. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2015 Apr;4(1):104-18.
- Rashid HB, Chaudhry M, Rashid H, Pervez K, Khan MA, Mahmood AK. Comparative efficacy of diminazene diaceturate and diminazene aceturate for the treatment of babesiosis in horses. Trop Anim Health Prod 2008 Aug;40(6):463-7.
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