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Parasites & vectors2020; 13(1); 462; doi: 10.1186/s13071-020-04318-5

Investigations on the occurrence of tapeworm infections in German horse populations with comparison of different antibody detection methods based on saliva and serum samples.

Abstract: Effective and sustainable worm control in horses would benefit from detailed information about the current regional occurrence of tapeworms. Different diagnostic methods are currently available to detect Anoplocephala spp. infections in horses. However, the format as well as the sensitivity and specificity of the methods vary considerably. Methods: A coprological, serological and questionnaire study was conducted to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of tapeworm infections on 48 horse farms in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany. In total, faecal samples of 484 horses were analysed using the double centrifugation/combined sedimentation-flotation and mini-FLOTAC. Serum (n = 481) and saliva (n = 365) samples were analysed by ELISAs to determine antibody levels against Anoplocephala spp. 12/13 kDa excretory/secretory (E/S) antigens. Results: Cestode eggs were detected in 0.6% of faecal samples (farm prevalence 6.3%) without differences between the two methods. In contrast, antibodies against Anoplocephala spp. were detected in 16.2% (farm prevalence 52.1%) and in 29.5% (farm prevalence 75.7%) of the serum and saliva samples, respectively. Both ELISA based methods for detection of tapeworms reported a greater number of infected animals requiring treatment than were positively identified by coproscopy. Logistic regression analysis identified permanent pasture access, large pastures and regular pasture changes and high strongyle egg counts as risk factors for positive serum antibody responses to Anoplocephala spp. while last treatment with praziquantel was protective. Other protective factors were the presence of foals and high numbers of horses on the farm. Daily removal of faeces from the pasture and horse age did not have a significant effect. Conclusions: The findings of the present serological investigation indicate that tapeworm prevalence in Berlin/Brandenburg horse farms is much higher than would be anticipated by using conventional/coproscopic analyses. Moreover, the majority of tapeworm-positive horses had not received a cestocidal drug at their last treatment. Considering the already known low sensitivity of the coproscopic detection, the equine veterinary diagnostics can be enhanced by the use of antibody detection methods such as the saliva-based ELISA.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-10 PubMed ID: 32912340PubMed Central: PMC7488081DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04318-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

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 sought to understand tapeworm infections in horses in the region of Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany, and also compared different methods of tapeworm detection. The study utilized serological, coprological, and a questionnaire approach on 48 horse farms. The findings indicate that the prevalence of tapeworms is higher than anticipated using traditional detection methods and suggest that enhanced diagnostic methods, like saliva-based ELISA, could improve equine veterinary diagnostics.

Overview of Methods Used

  • The researchers conducted a comprehensive study using coprological, serological, and questionnaire methods across 48 horse farms in Berlin and Brandenburg.
  • For the coprological study, they analyzed fecal samples from 484 horses using double centrifugation/combined sedimentation-flotation and mini-FLOTAC methods. This provided the team with information on existing tapeworm egg presence in feces.
  • The serological study involved analyzing serum (n = 481) and saliva (n = 365) samples to determine the antibody levels against Anoplocephala spp. 12/13 kDa E/S antigens.
  • A questionnaire was also utilized to gather more data about horses’ living conditions and access to pastures. This data allowed researchers to relate the occurrence of tapeworms to specific risk factors.

Key Findings

  • Compared to the 0.6% occurrence detected through fecal analysis, serological studies showed a significantly higher rate of infection. Antibodies indicative of tapeworm infections were found in 16.2% of serum samples and 29.5% of saliva samples.
  • An interesting discrepancy became clear: ELISA methods, which look for the presence of antibodies, reported a considerably higher number of infected animals than the traditional coproscopy method.
  • Through logistic regression analysis, key risk factors such as permanent pasture access, large pastures, regular pastoral changes, and high strongyle egg counts were noted. On the other hand, factors like recent treatment with praziquantel (a drug used against parasites), foals’ presence, and high numbers of horses on the same farm were found to be protective.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The research concluded that the traditional coproscopic method underestimates tapeworm prevalence in horse-populations in Berlin/Brandenburg.
  • More horses had tapeworm infections than the existing treatment numbers suggested, indicating a gap in the current parasitic control approach.
  • The higher tapeworm incidence detected with the saliva-based ELISAmethod suggests that this diagnostic technique can offer an enhanced understanding of equine tapeworm occurrence.

Cite This Article

APA
Jürgenschellert L, Krücken J, Austin CJ, Lightbody KL, Bousquet E, von Samson-Himmelstjerna G. (2020). Investigations on the occurrence of tapeworm infections in German horse populations with comparison of different antibody detection methods based on saliva and serum samples. Parasit Vectors, 13(1), 462. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-020-04318-5

Publication

Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 462

Researcher Affiliations

Jürgenschellert, Laura
  • Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, Berlin, 14163, Germany.
Krücken, Jürgen
  • Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, Berlin, 14163, Germany.
Austin, Corrine J
  • Austin Davis Biologics Ltd, Unit 1 Denfield Lodge, Lower Street, Great Addington, Northants, NN14 4BL, UK.
Lightbody, Kirsty L
  • Austin Davis Biologics Ltd, Unit 1 Denfield Lodge, Lower Street, Great Addington, Northants, NN14 4BL, UK.
Bousquet, Eric
  • Virbac, 13e rue LID BP 27, Carros cedex, 06511, France.
von Samson-Himmelstjerna, Georg
  • Institute for Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, Berlin, 14163, Germany. samson.georg@fu-berlin.de.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Helminth / blood
  • Cestoda / immunology
  • Cestoda / isolation & purification
  • Cestode Infections / blood
  • Cestode Infections / diagnosis
  • Cestode Infections / parasitology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Germany
  • Horse Diseases / blood
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Parasite Egg Count
  • Saliva / chemistry
  • Saliva / immunology
  • Seasons
  • Serum / chemistry
  • Serum / parasitology

Grant Funding

  • Not applicable / Virbac

Conflict of Interest Statement

CJA and KLL report an affiliation to Austin Davis Biologics, a commercial company with a financial interest in the discussed content. Austin Davis Biologics supported the study by providing the saliva collection kits and performing both serum and saliva ELISAs. EB reports an affiliation to the pharmaceutical company Virbac, Carros, France, which is sponsoring clinical trials. GvSH, JK and LJ declare that they have no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
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