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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasit Vectors / Prevalence of antibodies to Leishmania infantum and Toxoplas...
Parasites & vectors2013; 6; 178; doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-178

Prevalence of antibodies to Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii in horses from the north of Portugal.

Abstract: Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii are protozoa with zoonotic and economic importance. Prevalences of antibodies to these agents were assessed in 173 horses from the north of Portugal. Results: Antibodies to L. infantum were detected by the direct agglutination test (DAT); seven (4.0%) horses were seropositive with DAT titres of 200 (n = 5), 800 (n = 1) and ≥ 1600 (n = 1). Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT); 23 (13.3%) horses were seropositive with MAT titres of 20 (n = 13), 40 (n = 5), 80 (n = 3) and ≥ 160 (n = 2). No statistical differences were found among equine categories of gender (female, male and gelding), age (1.5-6, 7-12 and 13-30 years), type of housing (indoors and mixed/outdoors), ability (recreation, farming and sports) and clinical status (apparently healthy and sick) for both agents. Conclusions: Horses are exposed to and may be infected with L. infantum and T. gondii in the north of Portugal.
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Publication Date: 2013-06-17 PubMed ID: 23773870PubMed Central: PMC3686701DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-178Google 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.

This study investigates the occurrence of antibodies for the protozoans Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii in horses in Northern Portugal. The researchers discovered that a small percentage of tested horses had antibodies for these parasites, indicating possible exposure or infection.

Protozoan Agents Investigated

  • The research focuses on Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii, both of which are protozoan parasites with zoonotic potential, meaning they can be transmitted from animals to humans.
  • These parasites are of both medical and economic importance due to their potential impact on human health and livestock production.

Sampling and Results

  • The researchers conducted their study with 173 horses from the north of Portugal.
  • They used the Direct Agglutination Test (DAT) to detect antibodies for L. infantum. The test was positive in 7 horses (4.0%) with varying titres (a measurement of antibodies), indicating different levels of exposure or infection.
  • The Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) was utilised to detect antibodies for T. gondii. This test showed that 23 horses (13.3%) had developed antibodies for this parasite, again showing varying titres.

Statistical Analysis

  • The researchers examined various factors, including gender, age, type of housing, ability (purpose of the horse: recreation, farming, sports), and clinical status of the horses.
  • No significant statistical differences were found in the presence of antibodies for either parasite based on these factors. This suggests that all horses, independent of these categories, are equally susceptible to exposure and potential infection.

Conclusions

  • The presence of antibodies in some of the tested horses suggests that they had been exposed to L. infantum and T. gondii, with potential ongoing or past infection.
  • This significant finding shows that horses in the north of Portugal are at risk of infection from these parasites, which have serious implications for both animal and human health, potentially affecting the local economy as well.

Cite This Article

APA
Lopes AP, Sousa S, Dubey JP, Ribeiro AJ, Silvestre R, Cotovio M, Schallig HD, Cardoso L, Cordeiro-da-Silva A. (2013). Prevalence of antibodies to Leishmania infantum and Toxoplasma gondii in horses from the north of Portugal. Parasit Vectors, 6, 178. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-6-178

Publication

Parasites & vectors
ISSN: 1756-3305
NlmUniqueID: 101462774
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 6
Pages: 178

Researcher Affiliations

Lopes, Ana Patrícia
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.
Sousa, Susana
    Dubey, J P
      Ribeiro, Ana J
        Silvestre, Ricardo
          Cotovio, Mário
            Schallig, Henk D F H
              Cardoso, Luís
                Cordeiro-da-Silva, Anabela

                  MeSH Terms

                  • Agglutination Tests
                  • Animals
                  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
                  • Female
                  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
                  • Horses
                  • Leishmania infantum / immunology
                  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / epidemiology
                  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / veterinary
                  • Male
                  • Portugal / epidemiology
                  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
                  • Toxoplasma / immunology
                  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology

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