Prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infection in horses from northern Italy.

The research article investigates the prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, agents causing equine piroplasmosis, in horses from northern Italy. The study comprises of serological and PCR tests for these pathogens and an analysis of risk factors such as geography, age, and sex.

Research Methodology and Sample

• The researchers carried out an epidemiological study on a sample of 294 horses reared in a rural part of northern Italy.
• The study took place over a year, starting in January 2008, with the aim of determining the prevalence of two disease-causing agents—Theileria equi and Babesia caballi—which cause equine piroplasmosis, a serious disease in horses.
• Using blood samples from the horses, the researchers conducted serological tests—specifically, an indirect fluorescent antibody test—to identify the presence of antibodies in the horse serum against the two pathogens.
• The research team also used the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique, a molecular biology tool, to detect and quantify these pathogens in the blood samples.
• Additionally, data on geographical area of rearing, sex, and age of the horses were gathered with the aim of associating them with infection risks.

Research Findings

• The study revealed a seroprevalence—the number of individuals in a population who test positive for a specific disease based on serology tests— of 8.5%
• Among the tested horses, 8.2% had antibodies against T. equi, and 0.3% had antibodies against B. caballi, indicating a higher prevalence of T. equi compared to B. caballi. No dual infections (horses infected with both pathogens) were found.
• In addition, the researchers found that among the horses that tested positive for T. equi in the antibody test, 33% also tested positive in the PCR test. Notably, none of the horses that tested positive for B. caballi in the antibody test was found positive in the PCR test, suggesting that the active infection by B. caballi may be rare.
• The key factors considered for risk association – geographical area, sex, and age – depicted no significant correlation with infection status.

Thus, the research provides an indication of the prevalence of these pathogens, especially T. equi, in the horse population of northern Italy, highlighting the need for local equine health management strategies.