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Home / Equine Research Bank / Parasitol Res / Prevalence of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma...
Parasitology research2013; 112(7); 2611-2617; doi: 10.1007/s00436-013-3429-9

Prevalence of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses from the north of Portugal.

Abstract: Piroplasmid protozoa Theileria equi and Babesia caballi and zoonotic rickettsial bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum are important agents of equine vector-borne diseases (EVBD). This study aimed at investigating the prevalence of infections with or exposure to these pathogens in horses from the north of Portugal. Blood was randomly collected from 162 horses, living in 72 different stables, to prepare Giemsa-stained slide smears. Additionally, plasma samples were tested for antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi by two competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and to A. phagocytophilum by an indirect fluorescence antibody test. Five horses were positive to T. equi by microscopy (3.1 %), three to B. caballi (1.9 %), and none to A. phagocytophilum with no horse simultaneously positive for the two piroplasms. Clinically suspect animals had a significantly higher positivity to T. equi by microscopy in comparison with the nonsuspect ones (21.4 vs. 1.4 %). Twenty-nine horses were seropositive to T. equi (17.9 %), 18 to B. caballi (11.1 %), and 21 to A. phagocytophilum (13.0 %). Combined serology and microscopy positive results to T. equi and B. caballi were 19.1 and 11.7 %, respectively, with 33.3 % of the horses found positive to at least one agent. Forty horses were positive to single agents and 14 to more than one agent. An outdoor or mixed outdoor/indoor type of housing was found to be a risk factor for the combined positivity to T. equi. Infections with T. equi, B. caballi, and A. phagocytophilum are endemic in the north of Portugal. In addition to the treatment of positive horses, preventive measures should be put in practice to reduce exposure to and infection with agents of EVBD.
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Publication Date: 2013-04-17 PubMed ID: 23591484DOI: 10.1007/s00436-013-3429-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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.

The research paper investigates the prevalence of infections by Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which are important pathogens causing equine vector-borne diseases (EVBD), in horses from the north of Portugal.

Research Methodology

  • The study involved collecting blood samples from 162 horses located in 72 different stables across northern Portugal.
  • The blood was used to prepare Giemsa-stained slide smears, which allowed for the microscopic examination of the pathogens.
  • Plasma samples were also tested for antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi using two competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and to A. phagocytophilum using an indirect fluorescence antibody test.

Research Findings

  • Microscopic examination revealed 3.1% of horses were infected with T. equi and 1.9% with B. caballi. No horse tested positive for A. phagocytophilum.
  • There were no simultaneous infections of T. equi and B. caballi found. The horses with visible symptoms of infection had a higher rate of T. equi infection compared to the healthy ones (21.4% vs 1.4%).
  • Antibody test results revealed 17.9% of horses had been exposed to T. equi, 11.1% to B. caballi, and 13.0% to A. phagocytophilum.
  • There were 33.3% horses positive for at least one of the pathogens, and 14 out of these were positive for more than one pathogen.

Implications and Conclusion

  • The housing type (outdoor or mixed outdoor/indoor) appeared to be a risk factor for T. equi infection.
  • Based on the findings, infections with T. equi, B. caballi, and A. phagocytophilum are endemic in northern Portugal.
  • The authors suggest that in addition to treating infected horses, preventive measures are needed to reduce exposure to and infection with EVBD agents.

Cite This Article

APA
Ribeiro AJ, Cardoso L, Maia JM, Coutinho T, Cotovio M. (2013). Prevalence of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses from the north of Portugal. Parasitol Res, 112(7), 2611-2617. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-013-3429-9

Publication

Parasitology research
ISSN: 1432-1955
NlmUniqueID: 8703571
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 112
Issue: 7
Pages: 2611-2617

Researcher Affiliations

Ribeiro, Ana J
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, PO Box 1013, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal.
Cardoso, Luís
    Maia, José M
      Coutinho, Teresa
        Cotovio, Mário

          MeSH Terms

          • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification
          • Animals
          • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
          • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
          • Babesia / isolation & purification
          • Babesiosis / epidemiology
          • Babesiosis / parasitology
          • Babesiosis / veterinary
          • Blood / parasitology
          • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
          • Ehrlichiosis / parasitology
          • Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
          • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
          • Female
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horse Diseases / microbiology
          • Horse Diseases / parasitology
          • Horses
          • Male
          • Microscopy
          • Portugal / epidemiology
          • Prevalence
          • Theileria / isolation & purification
          • Theileriasis / epidemiology
          • Theileriasis / parasitology

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