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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Parasitol / Prevalence of antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in hors...
Veterinary parasitology2006; 142(3-4); 380-382; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.07.006

Prevalence of antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in horses from Brazil.

Abstract: Encephalitozoon cuniculi has been associated with natural cases of abortion and stillbirth in horses. However, little is known about the prevalence of this parasite in horses. We examined sera from 559 horses from Brazil for antibodies to E. cuniculi using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test and the direct agglutination test (DAT). We found that 79 (14.1%) were positive in the IFA test and 70 (12.5%) were positive in the DAT. Compared to the IFA as the "gold standard" the sensitivity of the DAG was 94.0% and the specificity was 96.1%. Our study indicates that horses in Brazil are frequently exposed to E. cuniculi.
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Publication Date: 2006-08-21 PubMed ID: 16919878DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.07.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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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 research article is about a study conducted to determine the prevalence of antibodies to the pathogen Encephalitozoon cuniculi in horses from Brazil, which has been linked to cases of abortion and stillbirth in horses. The findings indicate that a significant proportion of the horses were exposed to this pathogen.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The primary goal of this research was to ascertain the prevalence of the pathogen Encephalitozoon cuniculi among horses in Brazil. This parasite has reportedly been associated with incidents of abortion and stillbirth in equines but there isn’t sufficient prevalence data available.
  • The researchers examined serum samples collected from 559 horses in Brazil. The presence of antibodies to E. cuniculi in these samples was assessed using two tests – the Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody (IFA) test and Direct Agglutination Test (DAT).

Key Findings

  • Out of 559 horse serum samples, 79, representing 14.1%, were found to be positive for antibodies to E. cuniculi using the IFA test. Similarly, 70 horse serum samples, or 12.5%, tested positive with the DAT method.
  • When using the IFA test results as a “gold standard”, the DAT method demonstrated a sensitivity of 94.0% and a specificity of 96.1%. This indicates that the DAT method is a highly effective procedure for detecting antibodies to E. cuniculi in horse serum samples, as it accurately identified most positive (sensitivity) and negative (specificity) cases when compared to the IFA test results.
  • The researchers concluded that E. cuniculi exposure is fairly common in horses in Brazil, based on the considerable percentage of horses that tested positive for antibodies to this parasite.

Implication of the Study

  • This research provides valuable data on the prevalence of Encephalitozoon cuniculi among horses in Brazil. This information is crucial for devising effective disease management strategies and preventative measures.
  • The findings also validate the effectiveness of the DAT method for identifying antibodies to E. cuniculi in horse serum samples, raising the potential for broad-scale testing and monitoring for this parasite.

Cite This Article

APA
Goodwin D, Gennari SM, Howe DK, Dubey JP, Zajac AM, Lindsay DS. (2006). Prevalence of antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in horses from Brazil. Vet Parasitol, 142(3-4), 380-382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.07.006

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 0304-4017
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 142
Issue: 3-4
Pages: 380-382

Researcher Affiliations

Goodwin, David
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech, 1410 Prices Fork Road, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0342, USA.
Gennari, Solange M
    Howe, Daniel K
      Dubey, J P
        Zajac, Anne M
          Lindsay, David S

            MeSH Terms

            • Agglutination Tests / veterinary
            • Animals
            • Antibodies, Fungal / blood
            • Brazil
            • Encephalitozoon cuniculi / immunology
            • Encephalitozoon cuniculi / isolation & purification
            • Encephalitozoonosis / epidemiology
            • Encephalitozoonosis / immunology
            • Encephalitozoonosis / veterinary
            • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
            • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
            • Horse Diseases / immunology
            • Horse Diseases / microbiology
            • Horses
            • Seroepidemiologic Studies

            Citations

            This article has been cited 9 times.
            1. Magalhães TR, Pinto FF, Queiroga FL. A multidisciplinary review about Encephalitozoon cuniculi in a One Health perspective.. Parasitol Res 2022 Sep;121(9):2463-2479.
              doi: 10.1007/s00436-022-07562-zpubmed: 35840730google scholar: lookup
            2. Sak B, Kváč M. Chronic Infections in Mammals Due to Microsporidia.. Exp Suppl 2022;114:319-371.
              doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_12pubmed: 35544008google scholar: lookup
            3. Santaniello A, Cimmino I, Dipineto L, Agognon AL, Beguinot F, Formisano P, Fioretti A, Menna LF, Oriente F. Zoonotic Risk of Encephalitozoon cuniculi in Animal-Assisted Interventions: Laboratory Strategies for the Diagnosis of Infections in Humans and Animals.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 Sep 3;18(17).
              doi: 10.3390/ijerph18179333pubmed: 34501921google scholar: lookup
            4. Hollyer JA, McGuinness E, Bowers LC, Didier ES, Giudice C, Perl DP, Fogarty U. Encephalitozoon cuniculi-Associated Equine Encephalitis: A Case Report.. J Equine Vet Sci 2014 Nov-Dec;34(11-12):1348-1351.
              doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2014.09.002pubmed: 33727764google scholar: lookup
            5. Chen L, Gao X, Li R, Zhang L, Huang R, Wang L, Song Y, Xing Z, Liu T, Nie X, Nie F, Hua S, Zhang Z, Wang F, Ma RZ, Zhang L. Complete genome of a unicellular parasite (Antonospora locustae) and transcriptional interactions with its host locust.. Microb Genom 2020 Sep;6(9).
              doi: 10.1099/mgen.0.000421pubmed: 32783805google scholar: lookup
            6. Hinney B, Sak B, Joachim A, Kváč M. More than a rabbit's tale - Encephalitozoon spp. in wild mammals and birds.. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2016 Apr;5(1):76-87.
              doi: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2016.01.001pubmed: 28560162google scholar: lookup
            7. Stentiford GD, Becnel JJ, Weiss LM, Keeling PJ, Didier ES, Williams BAP, Bjornson S, Kent ML, Freeman MA, Brown MJF, Troemel ER, Roesel K, Sokolova Y, Snowden KF, Solter LF. Microsporidia-Emergent Pathogens in the Global Food Chain (Trends in Parasitology 32, 336-348; April 2, 2016).. Trends Parasitol 2016 Aug;32(8):657.
              doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2016.06.002pubmed: 27365191google scholar: lookup
            8. Stentiford GD, Becnel -J, Weiss LM, Keeling PJ, Didier ES, Williams BP, Bjornson S, Kent ML, Freeman MA, Brown MJF, Troemel ER, Roesel K, Sokolova Y, Snowden KF, Solter L. Microsporidia - Emergent Pathogens in the Global Food Chain.. Trends Parasitol 2016 Apr;32(4):336-348.
              doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2015.12.004pubmed: 26796229google scholar: lookup
            9. Cray C, Perritt E, Hughes C, Belgrave RL. Serological survey for antibody to Encephalitozoon cuniculi in horses in the USA.. Parasitol Res 2014 Jul;113(7):2757-9.
              doi: 10.1007/s00436-014-3930-9pubmed: 24802871google scholar: lookup
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