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Parasitology research2022; 121(3); 999-1008; doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07441-7

Molecular assessment of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi prevalence in horses and ticks on horses in southeastern France.

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by Babesia caballi and Theileria equi that is potentially emerging in non-endemic countries. We conducted a descriptive study to investigate EP prevalence and spatial distribution in an endemic region: the Camargue and the Plain of La Crau in France. In spring 2015 and 2016, we carried out sampling at stables (total n = 46) with a history of horses presenting chronic fever or weight loss. Overall, we collected blood from 632 horses, which were also inspected for ticks; these horses had been housed in the target stables for at least 1 year. We obtained 585 ticks from these horses and described land use around the stables. Real-time PCR was employed to assess T. equi and B. caballi prevalence in the horses and in the ticks found on the horses. For the horses, T. equi and B. caballi prevalence was 68.6% and 6.3%, respectively. For the ticks found on the horses, prevalence was 28.8% for T. equi and 0.85% for B. caballi. The most common tick species were, in order of frequency, Rhipicephalus bursa, R. sanguineus sl., Hyalomma marginatum, Haemaphysalis punctata, and Dermacentor sp. Horses bearing Rhipicephalus ticks occurred in wetter zones, closer to agricultural areas, permanent crops, and ditches, as well as in drier zones, in the more northern countryside. Compared to horses bearing R. bursa, horses bearing R. sanguineus sl. more frequently occurred near the Rhone River. Prevalence of T. equi in the ticks was as follows: Hyalomma marginatum (43%), Dermacentor sp. (40%), R. bursa (33%), R. sanguineus sl. (19%), and Haemaphysalis punctata (17%). In contrast, B. caballi only occurred in Dermacentor sp. (20%) and R. bursa (1%).
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-02-07 PubMed ID: 35128585PubMed Central: PMC8858311DOI: 10.1007/s00436-022-07441-7Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article discusses a study on the prevalence and spatial distribution of Equine piroplasmosis, a tick-borne disease caused by Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, in horses and ticks found on horses in Southeastern France. The key findings were that the prevalence of these diseases among horses was high and varied by tick species, with T. equi and B. caballi prevalence at 68.6% and 6.3% respectively among horses and 28.8% and 0.85% in ticks found on the horses.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The study aimed to investigate the prevalence and spatial distribution of Equine piroplasmosis (EP) in the Camargue and the Plain of La Crau regions in France, areas which have reported a history of horses presenting with chronic fever or weight loss.
  • The researchers collected blood samples from 632 horses that had been housed in these regions for at least a year, in the spring of 2015 and 2016.
  • The physical areas around the stables were also described to understand their impact on the prevalence of ticks.
  • A total of 585 ticks were extracted from these horses and both the horse blood and ticks were examined using Real-time PCR to detect the presence of the two disease-causing organisms, T. equi and B. caballi.

Findings of the Study

  • The prevalence of T. equi and B. caballi, among the horses sampled, stood at 68.6% and 6.3% respectively, indicating a high level of disease prevalence in the region.
  • The researchers also found that 28.8% of the ticks found on horses carried T. equi, whilst 0.85% carried B. caballi.
  • The researchers also noted diversity in the tick species found on the horses, with Rhipicephalus bursa and R. sanguineus sl. being more prominent, followed by Hyalomma marginatum, Haemaphysalis punctata, and Dermacentor sp.
  • The distribution of these ticks was found to correlate with the surrounding environment. Horses with Rhipicephalus ticks were found in wetter zones and closer to agricultural areas, permanent crops, and ditches. They were also seen in drier zones in the northern countryside. Horses with R. sanguineus sl. were more commonly found near the Rhone River.
  • The prevalence of T. equi and B. caballi varied among ticks from different species: Hyalomma marginatum (43%), Dermacentor sp. (40%), R. bursa (33%), R. sanguineus sl. (19%), and Haemaphysalis punctata (17%) were found to carry T. equi, while B. caballi was only found in Dermacentor sp. (20%) and R. bursa (1%).

Significance of the Study

  • This research helped in understanding the high prevalence of EP in horses in southeastern France, which helps in directing efforts towards developing disease prevention and management strategies.
  • The study also offered insight into the relationship between the physical environment and the spread of ticks, which could affect decisions concerning stable locations and their management.
  • The research also highlighted the variation in disease prevalence among different tick species, urging the need to develop species-specific control methods.

Cite This Article

APA
Rocafort-Ferrer G, Leblond A, Joulié A, René-Martellet M, Sandoz A, Poux V, Pradier S, Barry S, Vial L, Legrand L. (2022). Molecular assessment of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi prevalence in horses and ticks on horses in southeastern France. Parasitol Res, 121(3), 999-1008. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-022-07441-7

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 121
Issue: 3
Pages: 999-1008

Researcher Affiliations

Rocafort-Ferrer, Gloria
  • Equine Department, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Campus Vétérinaire de Lyon, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France. rocafort.gloria@gmail.com.
  • La Clinique du Cheval, Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire Équin, 3910 Route de Launac, 31330, Grenade, France. rocafort.gloria@gmail.com.
Leblond, Agnès
  • EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
Joulié, Aurélien
  • École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse - Université de Toulouse, 31300, Toulouse, France.
René-Martellet, Magalie
  • EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, 69280, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
Sandoz, Alain
  • Laboratoire Chimie de L'Environnement, CNRS, UMR 7376, Aix Marseille Université, 13003, Marseille, France.
Poux, Valérie
  • EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, 63122, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
Pradier, Sophie
  • Clinique Vétérinaire Jolimont, 31000, Toulouse, France.
Barry, Séverine
  • EPIA, UMR 0346, Epidemiologie des maladies animales et zoonotiques, INRAE, VetAgro Sup, 63122, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France.
Vial, Laurence
  • BIOS Department, CIRAD-INRAE Joint Research Unit ASTRE (Animals, Health, Territories, Risks, and Ecosystems), Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398Cedex 5, Montpellier, France.
Legrand, Loïc
  • LABÉO Frank Duncombe, 14280, Saint-Contest, France.
  • UNICAEN, BIOTARGEN, Normandie University, 14000, Caen, France.
  • UNICAEN ImpedanCEL, Normandie University, 14280, Saint-Contest, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Cattle
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses
  • Phylogeny
  • Prevalence
  • Rhipicephalus
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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