Prevalence and risk factors of Theileria equi infection in horses in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Abstract: Theileria equi, a protozoon in the phylum Apicomplexa, is the causative agent of equine theileriosis. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence of IgG antibodies against T. equi, by using the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) reaction and correlating the serostatus with some epidemiological variables relating to the way in which Mangalarga Marchador horses are raised in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. In this study, 506 horses were used, all clinically healthy, on 53 horse farms distributed across 27 municipalities in southern Minas Gerais. The statistical tests, comprising the chi-square test and generalized estimating equations (GEE), were performed in the SPSS Statistics 20.0 software. The true seroprevalence of T. equi among the horses was 57.0% (288 out of 506; ranging from 52.1 to 62.0%) and among horse farms, 98.1% (52 out of 53; ranging from 90.3 to 99.9%). The horse farms on which the majority of the horses presented good body condition and which did not use chemical products to kill ticks when new horses were introduced, had horses over the age of 5years, comprised <100ha in area and did not use embryo transfer showed greater seroprevalence of T. equi (p<0.05). The results from this study make it possible to state that infection with T. equi is endemic in the south of Minas Gerais and is widely distributed among horse farms raising Mangalarga Marchador horses. However, these infections are subclinical or chronic.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2016-06-11 PubMed ID: 31014494DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2016.05.005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article looks at the prevalence and risk factors of Theileria equi infection, a parasite causing disease in horses, in a region in Brazil. It examines how factors related to horse rearing patterns on specific farms influence the likelihood of the parasite infection.
About the Study
- The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study to understand the prevalence of IgG antibodies against T.equi. This was done using the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT).
- The study focused on the Mangalarga Marchador horses raised in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- The sample size consisted of 506 clinically healthy horses from 53 horse farms spread across 27 municipalities.
- Statistical tests such as chi-square and generalized estimating equations were performed using SPSS Statistics 20.0 software.
Results of the Study
- The true seroprevalence of T. equi among the sampled horses was 57%, i.e., 288 out of 506 horses showed the presence of IgG antibodies against T.equi.
- Among the farms studied, a large percentage (98.1%) had at least one horse testing positive for T. equi seroprevalence.
- Farms that maintained horses with good body condition, did not use chemical tick controls, had horses above 5 years old, had areas less than 100 hectares, and did not practice embryo transfer had higher instances of T. equi.
Significance of the Study
- The findings clarify that T. equi infection is endemic in southern Minas Gerais, even though most infections are subclinical or chronic.
- The study results can form the basis of understanding the prevalence of other equine diseases in the region.
- This data can guide veterinary professionals and horse owners in managing and preventing T. equi infection on horse farms.
Cite This Article
APA
Guimarães AM, Bruhn FRP, Ribeiro MJM, Rosa MHF, de Mello Garcia A, da Rocha CMBM, de Assis Rocha I.
(2016).
Prevalence and risk factors of Theileria equi infection in horses in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports, 3-4, 18-22.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2016.05.005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais CEP 37200-000, Caixa postal 3037, Brazil. Electronic address: amg@dmv.ufla.br.
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul CEP 96010-900, Caixa postal 354, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais CEP 37200-000, Caixa postal 3037, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais CEP 37200-000, Caixa postal 3037, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais CEP 37200-000, Caixa postal 3037, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais CEP 37200-000, Caixa postal 3037, Brazil.
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais CEP 37200-000, Caixa postal 3037, Brazil.
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