FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary sciences2024; 11(12); 600; doi: 10.3390/vetsci11120600

Molecular Investigations of Babesia caballi from Clinically Healthy Horses in Southwestern Romania.

Abstract: is a tick-borne hemoparasite that causes equine piroplasmosis. It has a significant economic impact, decreasing performance and affecting animal welfare. This study aimed to identify DNA in the blood of horses from households in the southwestern and western regions of Romania. We included 310 animals, from which blood was collected via EDTA. To test the samples for the parasite genome, we used real-time PCR and conventional PCR. The prevalence of was 5.81% (18/310) in apparently healthy horses, suggesting that this parasite is enzootic in the regions studied, although veterinarians did not indicate any symptoms resembling clinical babesiosis. In Romania, there are insufficient epidemiologic data on equine babesiosis, and the results of the present study suggest the need for further investigations into the dynamics of transmission and to identify potential prevention and control strategies.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2024-11-27 PubMed ID: 39728940PubMed Central: PMC11680348DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11120600Google Scholar: Lookup
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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 is a study about a parasite called Babesia caballi that affects horses and is common in southwestern and western Romania. By collecting blood samples from 310 horses and testing them for the parasite genome, researchers found a prevalence rate of 5.81%. This suggests the parasite is commonly found in these regions even if horses do not show any symptoms, indicating a possible need for improved prevention and control strategies.

Overview of Babesia Caballi

The study concerns Babesia caballi, a parasite transmitted by ticks that can cause an illness in horses known as equine piroplasmosis. This illness can have a significant economic impact by reducing horse performance and creating issues related to animal welfare.

Research Purpose and Methodology

The main purpose of the study was to identify the presence of Babesia caballi DNA in the blood of horses from southwestern and western Romania. The researchers included 310 horses in their study.

  • The blood was collected using a method called EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), which allows the blood to be tested without clotting.
  • The collected blood samples were then tested for the presence of Babesia caballi parasite genome using real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and conventional PCR procedures, which are widely-used methods for detecting genetic material.

Results of the Study

In the tested group of apparently healthy horses, the prevalence of Babesia caballi was found to be 5.81% (18 out of 310 horses). This suggests that the parasite is enzootic in the studied regions, meaning it is regularly found without any awareness of its presence due to the lack of obvious symptoms.

Implications of the Study

In Romania, there is currently insufficient epidemiological data concerning equine babesiosis. The results of this study suggest the importance of further investigations into understanding:

  • How the parasite is transmitted.
  • How potential prevention and control strategies can be identified and implemented.

These are essential for improving horses’ health and alleviate the economic impact in the regions studied.

Cite This Article

APA
(2024). Molecular Investigations of Babesia caballi from Clinically Healthy Horses in Southwestern Romania. Vet Sci, 11(12), 600. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11120600

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 12
PII: 600

Researcher Affiliations

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

This article includes 54 references
  1. Dunkel B. Equine Internal Medicine. 2018.
  2. Cullinane A.A., Barr B., Bernard W., Duncan J.L., Mulcahy G., Smith I.M., Timoney J.F.. Infectious diseases. 2006.
  3. Borges A.S., Mair T., Pasval I., Saulez M.N., Tennent-Brown B.S., van Eps A.W.. Equine Emergencies: Treatment and Procedures. 2014.
  4. Nadal C., Bonnet S.I., Marsot M.. Eco-epidemiology of equine piroplasmosis and its associated tick vectors in Europe: A systematic literature review and a meta-analysis of prevalence. Transbound Emerg. Dis. 2022;69:2474–2498.
    doi: 10.1111/tbed.14261pubmed: 34333863google scholar: lookup
  5. Mendoza F.J., Pérez-Écija A., Kappmeyer L.S., Suarez C.E., Bastos R.G.. New insights in the diagnosis and treatment of equine piroplasmosis: Pitfalls, idiosyncrasies, and myths. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1459989.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1459989pmc: PMC11349644pubmed: 39205808google scholar: lookup
  6. Onyiche T.E., 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;16:1736.
    doi: 10.3390/ijerph16101736pmc: PMC6572709pubmed: 31100920google scholar: lookup
  7. Scoles G.A., Ueti M.W.. Vector ecology of equine piroplasmosis. Annu. Rev. Entomol. 2015;60:561–580.
    doi: 10.1146/annurev-ento-010814-021110pubmed: 25564746google scholar: lookup
  8. Coipan E.C., Vladimirescu A.F., Ciolpan O., Teodorescu I.. Tick species (Acari: Ixodoidea) distribution, seasonality and host associations in Romania. Trav. Muséum Natl. Hist. Nat. Grigore Antipa 2011;54:301–317.
    doi: 10.2478/v10191-011-0018-ygoogle scholar: lookup
  9. Mihalca A.D., Dumitrache M.O., Magdaş C., Gherman C.M., Domşa C., Mircean V., Sándor A.D.. Synopsis of the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of Romania with update on host associations and geographical distribution. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 2012;58:183–206.
    doi: 10.1007/s10493-012-9566-5pubmed: 22544174google scholar: lookup
  10. Wagner G., Cruz D., Holman P., Waghela S., Perrone J., Shompole S., Rurangirwa F.. Non-immunologic methods of diagnosis of babesiosis. Memórias Inst. Oswaldo Cruz 1992;87:193–199.
    doi: 10.1590/S0074-02761992000700032pubmed: 1343690google scholar: lookup
  11. De Waal D.T., Van Heerden J.. Equine piroplasmosis. 2004.
  12. Camino E., Buendia A., Dorrego A., Pozo P., de Juan L., Dominguez L., Cruz-Lopez F.. Sero-molecular survey and risk factors for equine piroplasmosis in horses in Spain. Equine Vet. J. 2021;53:771–779.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13348pubmed: 32918303google scholar: lookup
  13. Dirks E., Werner G., Schwarz B., Trübenbach L., Schwendenwein I., Joachim A., Cavalleri J.. Equine Piroplasmosis in German-speaking countries–An underdiagnosed disease?. Prakt. Tierarzt. 2021;102:1078–1088.
    doi: 10.2376/0032-681X-2150google scholar: lookup
  14. World Organisation for Animal Health. [(accessed on 14 September 2024)]. Available online: https://www.woah.org/fileadmin/Home/eng/Health_standards/tahm/3.06.08_EQUINE_PIROPLASMOSIS.pdf.
  15. Tirosh-Levy S., Gottlieb Y., Fry L.M., Knowles D.P., Steinman A.. Twenty years of equine piroplasmosis research: Global distribution, molecular diagnosis, and phylogeny. Pathogens 2020;9:926.
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens9110926pmc: PMC7695325pubmed: 33171698google scholar: lookup
  16. Bartolome Del Pino L.E., Nardini R., Veneziano V., Iacoponi F., Cersini A., Autorino G.L., Buono F., Scicluna M.. Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Central-Southern Italy: Sero-molecular survey and associated risk factors. Ticks Tick-Borne Dis. 2016;7:462–469.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2016.01.011pubmed: 26847198google scholar: lookup
  17. Bhoora R., Quan M., Franssen L., Butler C.M., van der Kolk J.H., Guthrie A.J., Zweygarth E., Jongejan F., Collins N.E.. Development and evaluation of real-time PCR assays for the quantitative detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses from South Africa. Vet. Parasitol. 2010;168:201–211.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.11.011pubmed: 20031328google scholar: lookup
  18. Medrano-Bugarini R.A., Figueroa-Millán J.V., Rivera-Chavira B.E., Lira-Amaya J.J., Rodríguez-Alarcón C.A., Beristain-Ruiz D.M., Adame-Gallegos J.R.. Detection of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum DNA in soft ticks and horses at Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Southwest. Entomol. 2019;44:647–658.
    doi: 10.3958/059.044.0310google scholar: lookup
  19. Cortés M.G.M., Fernández-García J.L., Martínez-Estéllez M.Á.H.. Seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in Spain. Parasite 2017;24:14.
    doi: 10.1051/parasite/2017015pmc: PMC5432961pubmed: 28497743google scholar: lookup
  20. De Waal D.T.. Equine piroplasmosis: A review. Br. Vet. J. 1992;148:6–14.
    doi: 10.1016/0007-1935(92)90061-5pubmed: 1551016google scholar: lookup
  21. Butler C.M., Nijhof A.M., Van der Kolk J.H., De Haseth O.B., Taoufik A., Jongejan F., Houwers D.J.. Repeated high dose imidocarb dipropionate treatment did not eliminate Babesia caballi from naturally infected horses as determined by PCR-reverse line blot hybridization. Vet. Parasitol. 2008;151:320–322.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2007.11.010pubmed: 18160222google scholar: lookup
  22. Díaz-Sánchez A.A., Pires M.S., Estrada C.Y., Cañizares E.V., Del Castillo Domínguez S.L., Cabezas-Cruz A., Rivero E.L., da Fonseca A.H., Massard C.L., Corona-González B.. First molecular evidence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi infections in horses in Cuba. Parasitol. Res. 2018;117:3109–3118.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-018-6005-5pubmed: 30033488google scholar: lookup
  23. Elsawy B.S.M., Mahmoud M.S., Suarez C.E., Alzan H.F.. Impact of Equine and Camel Piroplasmosis in Egypt: How Much Do We Know about the Current Situation?. Pathogens 2023;12:1318.
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens12111318pmc: PMC10675018pubmed: 38003783google scholar: lookup
  24. Axt C.W., Springer A., Strube C., Jung C., Naucke T.J., Müller E., Schäfer I.. Molecular and Serological Detection of Vector-Borne Pathogens Responsible for Equine Piroplasmosis in Europe between 2008 and 2021. Microorganisms 2024;12:816.
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms12040816pmc: PMC11051957pubmed: 38674760google scholar: lookup
  25. National Institute of Statistics. [(accessed on 14 September 2024)]. Available online: http://statistici.insse.ro:8077/tempo-online/#/pages/tables/insse-table.
  26. University of Melbourne. [(accessed on 14 September 2024)]. Available online: http://shiny.vet.unimelb.edu.au.
  27. BlastBasic Local Alignment Search Tool, National Center for Biotechnology Information. [(accessed on 20 May 2024)]; Available online: https://blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
  28. Norwegian University of Science and Technology. [(accessed on 15 March 2024)]. Available online: www.ntnu.edu/hunt/hunt-dna-quality.
  29. Rzekęć A., Vial C., Bigot G.. Green Assets of Equines in the European Context of the Ecological Transition of Agriculture. Animals 2020;10:106.
    doi: 10.3390/ani10010106pmc: PMC7023172pubmed: 31936379google scholar: lookup
  30. Gallusová M., Qablan M.A., D’Amico G., Oborník M., Petrželková K.J., Mihalca A.D., Modrý D.. Piroplasms in fe ral and domestic equines in rural areas of the Danube Delta, Romania, with survey of dogs as a possible reservoir. Vet. Parasitol. 2014;206:287–292.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.10.018pubmed: 25468026google scholar: lookup
  31. Ionita M., Nicorescu I.M., Pfister K., Mitrea I.L.. Parasitological and molecular diagnosis of a clinical Babesia caballi outbreak in Southern Romania. Parasitol. Res. 2018;117:2333–2339.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-018-5899-2pubmed: 29766270google scholar: lookup
  32. Gotić J.. Clinical and Serological Diagnostics and Molecular Typing of Equine Piroplasmosis Aetiological Agents in the Republic of Croatia. 2015.
  33. Davitkov D., Vucicevic M., Stevanovic J., Krstic V., Slijepcevic D., Glavinic U., Stanimirovic Z.. Molecular detection and prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses of central Balkan. Acta Parasitol. 2016;61:337–342.
    doi: 10.1515/ap-2016-0044pubmed: 27078657google scholar: lookup
  34. Rocafort-Ferrer G., Leblond A., Joulié A., René-Martellet M., Sandoz A., Poux V., Pradier S., Barry S., Vial L., Legrand L.. Molecular assessment of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi prevalence in horses and ticks on horses in southeastern France. Parasitol. Res. 2022;121:999–1008.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07441-7pmc: PMC8858311pubmed: 35128585google scholar: lookup
  35. Butler C.M., Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan M.M., Stout T.A., van der Kolk J.H., Wollenberg L., Nielen M., Jongejan F., Werners A.H., Houwers D.J.. Prevalence of the causative agents of equine piroplasmosis in the South West of The Netherlands and the identification of two autochthonous clinical Theileria equi infections. Vet. J. 2012;193:381–385.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.12.014pubmed: 22266019google scholar: lookup
  36. Farkas R., Tanczos B., Gyurkovszky M., Foldvari G., Solymosi N., Edelhofer R., Hornok S.. Serological and molecular detection of Theileria equi infection in horses in Hungary. Vet. Parasitol. 2013;192:143–148.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.09.035pubmed: 23099089google scholar: lookup
  37. Teodorowski O., Kalinowski M., Winiarczyk D., Janecki R., Winiarczyk S., Adaszek L.. Molecular surveillance of tick-borne diseases affecting horses in Poland-Own observations. Vet. Med. Sci. 2021;7:1159–1165.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.451pmc: PMC8294402pubmed: 33620135google scholar: lookup
  38. Davitkov D., Vucicevic M., Stanisic L., Radakovic M., Glavinic U., Stanimirovic Z.. A molecular and haematological study of Theileria equi in Balkan donkeys. Acta Vet. Hung. 2017;65:234–241.
    doi: 10.1556/004.2017.023pubmed: 28605963google scholar: lookup
  39. Peckle M., Pires M.S., Dos Santos T.M., Roier E.C.R., da Silva C.B., Vilela J.A.R., Paulino P.G., Santos H., Santos H.A., Massard C.L.. Molecular investigation of Babesia caballi in horses from the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Epidemiological aspects associated with the infection. Vet. Parasitol. Reg. Stud. Rep. 2022;30:100709.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100709pubmed: 35431067google scholar: lookup
  40. Bělková T., Bártová E., Řičařová D., Jahn P., Jandová V., Modrý D., Hrazdilová K., Sedlák K.. Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in the Czech Republic. Acta Trop. 2021;221:105993.
    doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.105993pubmed: 34097910google scholar: lookup
  41. Tirosh-Levy S., Mazuz M.L., Savitsky I., Pinkas D., Gottlieb Y., Steinman A.. Serological and molecular prevalence of Babesia caballi in apparently healthy horses in Israel. Pathogens 2021;10:445.
    doi: 10.3390/pathogens10040445pmc: PMC8068206pubmed: 33917822google scholar: lookup
  42. Joachim A., Cavalleri J.V., Berger S.. Equine anaplasmosis and equine piroplasmosis in Germany, Austria and Switzerland-previously anecdotal, now relevant?. Schweiz. Arch. Tierheilkd. 2022;164:35–50.
    doi: 10.17236/sat00335pubmed: 34983738google scholar: lookup
  43. Sigg L., Gerber V., Gottstein B., Doherr M.G., Frey C.F.. Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in the Swiss horse population. Parasitol. Int. 2010;59:313–317.
    doi: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.02.005pubmed: 20178863google scholar: lookup
  44. Rosales R., Rangel-Rivas A., Escalona A., Jordan L.S., Gonzatti M.I., Aso P.M., Perrone T., Silva-Iturriza A., Mijares A.. Detection of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in Venezuelan horses using Competitive-Inhibition ELISA and PCR. Vet. Parasitol. 2013;196:37–43.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.02.004pubmed: 23582233google scholar: lookup
  45. Salinas-Estrella E., Ueti M.W., Lobanov V.A., Castillo-Payró E., Lizcano-Mata A., Badilla C., Martínez-Ibáñez F., Mosqueda J.. Serological and molecular detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Mexico: A prospective study. PLoS ONE 2022;17:e0264998.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264998pmc: PMC8903245pubmed: 35259206google scholar: lookup
  46. Bartolomé del Pino L.E., Meana A., Zini M., Cersini A.. Evidence of transplacental transmission of equine piroplasms Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in an Italian breed mare. Folia Parasitol. 2023;70:005.
    doi: 10.14411/fp.2023.005pubmed: 36960775google scholar: lookup
  47. Bashiruddin J.B., Camma C., Rebelo E.. Molecular detection of Babesia equi and Babesia caballi in horse blood by PCR ampli-fication of part of the 16S rRNA gene. Vet. Parasitol. 1999;84:75–83.
    doi: 10.1016/S0304-4017(99)00049-7pubmed: 10435792google scholar: lookup
  48. Bhoora R., Franssen L., Oosthuizen M.C., Guthrie A.J., Zweygarth E., Penzhorn B.L., Jongejan F., Collins N.E.. Sequence heterogeneity in the 18S rRNA gene within Theileria equi and Babesia caballi from horses in South Africa. Vet. Parasitol. 2009;159:112–120.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2008.10.004pubmed: 19019541google scholar: lookup
  49. Chen K., Hu Z., Yang G., Guo W., Qi T., Liu D., Wang Y., Du C., Wang X.. Development of a duplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection and differentiation of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. Transbound Emerg. Dis. 2022;69:e1338–e1349.
    doi: 10.1111/tbed.14464pubmed: 35089645google scholar: lookup
  50. Qablan M.A., Oborník M., Petrželková K.J., Sloboda M., Shudiefat M.F., Hořín P., Lukeš J., Modrý D.. Infections by Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Jordanian equids: Epidemiology and genetic diversity. Parasitology 2013;140:1096–1103.
    doi: 10.1017/S0031182013000486pubmed: 23673249google scholar: lookup
  51. Friedhoff K.T., Tenter A.M., Müller I.. Haemoparasites of equines: Impact on international trade of horses. Rev. Sci. Tech. 1990;9:1187–1194.
    pubmed: 2132711
  52. Rothschild C.M.. Equine piroplasmosis. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2013;33:497–508.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2013.03.189google scholar: lookup
  53. Wise L.N., Kappmeyer L.S., Mealey R.H., Knowles D.P.. Review of equine piroplasmosis. J. Vet. Intern. Med. 2013;27:1334–1346.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.12168pubmed: 24033559google scholar: lookup
  54. Schein E.. Equine babesiosis. Babesiosis Domest. Anim. Man. 1988;197:208.

Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Hacilarlioglu S, Bilgic HB, Karagenc T, Aydin HB, Toker H, Kanlioglu H, Pekagirbas M, Bakirci S. Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Equine Piroplasmosis and Other Blood Parasites in Equids of Western Aegean Türkiye. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 27;12(9).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090826pubmed: 41012752google scholar: lookup
  2. Duaso J, Perez-Ecija A, Navarro A, Martínez E, De Las Heras A, Mendoza FJ. True Prevalence and Seroprevalence of Piroplasmosis in Horses in Southwestern Europe. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 11;15(14).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15142047pubmed: 40723509google scholar: lookup
  3. Dreghiciu IC, Hoffman D, Dumitru S, Oprescu I, Imre M, Florea T, Plesko A, Iorgoni V, Morariu S, Dărăbuș G, Ilie MS. First Molecular Identification of Zoonotic Babesia odocoilei in Ticks from Romania. Microorganisms 2025 May 22;13(6).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13061182pubmed: 40572070google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.