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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasitol Res / Molecular epidemiology of Theileria equi in horses and their...
Parasitology research2013; 112(5); 2017-2025; doi: 10.1007/s00436-013-3360-0

Molecular epidemiology of Theileria equi in horses and their association with possible tick vectors in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to detect Theileria equi (Laveran 1901) DNA in horses and ticks using real-time PCR and to list the factors associated with infection in animals located in the Seropedica and Petropolis municipalities of the state of Rio de Janeiro. We tested blood samples from 314 horses and samples from 300 ticks, including 191 Amblyomma cajennense, 104 Dermacentor nitens, and 5 Ixodida larvae. Factors inherent to the horse, the ownership, and animal management were obtained from an epidemiological questionnaire and were evaluated in association with the presence of T. equi DNA in the animals. Among the horses in the study, 81 % (n = 253/314) presented T. equi DNA, and the animals of the Seropedica municipality had the highest infection frequency (91 %, n = 128/141, p < 0.001). The factors that had significantly different infection frequencies by chi-squared or Fisher's exact tests (p < 0.2) were included in a logistic regression model using the R programming package. Work and walking activity (odds ratio [OR] = 5.7, CI = 2.3-14.4), reproductive activity (OR = 3.8, CI = 1.3-11.5), and tick infestation (OR = 2.6, CI = 1.1-6.2) were factors that favored the presence of T. equi DNA in the animals (p < 0.05). Among the tick samples, A. cajennense and D. nitens were the identified species. The presence of T. equi DNA was observed in 9.9 % (n = 19/191) of the A. cajennense samples and 3.8 % (n = 4/104) of the D. nitens samples. A multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of A. cajennense on the animals (OR = 4.1, CI = 1.8-9.1) was associated with the presence of T. equi DNA in the horses. In the studied municipalities, activities related to work, walking, and reproduction and the presence of ticks on the horses, particularly an intense infestation of A. cajennense, are factors that lead to infection with T. equi in the horses.
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Publication Date: 2013-03-09 PubMed ID: 23474658PubMed Central: PMC3625414DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3360-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 researchers investigated the prevalence of Theileria equi, a tick-borne disease, in horses and ticks in two municipalities in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They found that 81% of horses tested positive for T. equi DNA, with specific activities and presence of certain tick species increasing the risk of infection.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study aimed to find evidence of Theileria equi, a parasite that causes disease in horses, in horses and ticks from two localities in Brazil.
  • The researchers used real-time PCR to detect T. equi DNA from blood samples of 314 horses and from 300 ticks.
  • The ticks species included in the study were Amblyomma cajennense, Dermacentor nitens, and Ixodida larvae.
  • Information regarding the horses, their owners, and how the animals were managed was gathered using an epidemiological questionnaire.

Results

  • A significant majority of horses (81%) were found to have T. equi DNA, with Seropedica municipality having the highest infection frequency.
  • Factors associated with higher infection rates in horses included work and walking activity, reproductive activity, and tick infestation.
  • Of the tick samples, 9.9% of the A. cajennense samples and 3.8% of the D. nitens samples contained T. equi DNA.
  • Presence of A. cajennense on the horses correlated with presence of T. equi DNA in the horses.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that T. equi infection in horses in the studied communities is strongly associated with work, walking, and reproduction activities, as well as the presence of ticks, particularly A. cajennense.
  • This highlights the potential importance of managing tick populations and modifying horse activities as a means to control and prevent T. equi infections in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Peckle M, Pires MS, Dos Santos TM, Roier EC, da Silva CB, Vilela JA, Santos HA, Massard CL. (2013). Molecular epidemiology of Theileria equi in horses and their association with possible tick vectors in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Parasitol Res, 112(5), 2017-2025. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3360-0

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 112
Issue: 5
Pages: 2017-2025

Researcher Affiliations

Peckle, Maristela
  • Animal Parasitology Department, Veterinary Institute, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, Km 7, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, 23897-000, Brazil.
Pires, Marcus S
    Dos Santos, Tiago M
      Roier, Erica C R
        da Silva, Claudia B
          Vilela, Joice A R
            Santos, Huarrisson A
              Massard, Carlos L

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Arachnid Vectors / parasitology
                • Brazil / epidemiology
                • DNA, Protozoan / analysis
                • DNA, Protozoan / genetics
                • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                • Horse Diseases / parasitology
                • Horses
                • Molecular Epidemiology
                • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
                • Theileria / classification
                • Theileria / genetics
                • Theileriasis / epidemiology
                • Theileriasis / parasitology
                • Tick Infestations / epidemiology
                • Tick Infestations / parasitology
                • Ticks / classification
                • Ticks / parasitology

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