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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Med Sci / Prevalence of tick borne pathogens in horses from Italy.
The Journal of veterinary medical science2013; 75(6); 715-720; doi: 10.1292/jvms.12-0449

Prevalence of tick borne pathogens in horses from Italy.

Abstract: In order to investigate the prevalence of tick-borne diseases, equine piroplasmosis, equine granulocytic anaplasmosis and Lyme borreliosis in Central Italy, blood samples from 300 horses were analyzed for the presence of antibodies against Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi using the IFAT. The blood samples were also subjected to PCR assays in order to detect pathogen DNA. A total of 78 (26.0%) and 123 (41.0%) horses were found to be seropositive for B. caballi and T. equi, respectively, while 41 (13. 4%) and 21 (7.0%) horses were, respectively, seropositive for A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi. Seropositivity for more than one agent was detected in 76 horses using IFAT. The most common association observed was between T. equi and B. caballi (14.7%). In addition, 54 horses (18.0%) were found to be positive for one or more tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) using PCR testing. Among these, 28 (9.3%) harbored single infections, while 26 (8.7%) were found to be co-infected with two or more pathogens. The correlation (K value) between IFAT and PCR results was 0.32 for T. equi, 0.34 for B. caballi, 0.62 for B. burgdorferi and 0.48 for A. phagocytophilum, reflecting an unprecedented degree of multiple exposures to TBPs in horses.
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Publication Date: 2013-01-18 PubMed ID: 23328633DOI: 10.1292/jvms.12-0449Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The researchers investigated the prevalence of tick-borne diseases in horses in Central Italy, finding significant evidence of multiple exposures to disease-causing pathogens in horses.

Introduction to the Study

  • The study aimed to investigate the presence of a range of tick-borne diseases, namely equine piroplasmosis, equine granulocytic anaplasmosis, and Lyme borreliosis in the horse population in Central Italy.
  • These diseases are caused by specific pathogens that are transmitted by ticks, including Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Borrelia burgdorferi.
  • The researchers took blood samples from 300 horses and analyzed them for the presence of antibodies against these pathogens using a method known as the Immune Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT), a reliable method for detecting antibodies that indicates past or current infection.

Findings of the Study

  • A total of 26.0% and 41.0% of horses tested in the study were found to be seropositive for B. caballi and T. equi, respectively, indicating either past or current infection.
  • In addition, 13.4% of horses had antibodies against A. phagocytophilum and 7.0% had antibodies against B. burgdorferi.
  • Furthermore, the blood samples were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests to detect pathogen DNA. This confirmed the presence of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in 18.0% of the horses, with 9.3% exhibiting single infections and 8.7% co-infected with two or more pathogens.
  • It is noteworthy that seropositivity for more than one agent was detected in 76 horses owing to the common association between T. equi and B. caballi.

Implications of the Study

  • The result identifies the unprecedented degree of multiple exposures to tick-borne pathogens in horses, emphasizing the importance of implementing effective control measures.
  • A discrepancy was found between the IFAT and PCR results reflecting that the two tests might be capturing different aspects of the infection.
  • The correlation (K value) between IFAT and PCR results ranged from 0.32 to 0.62 for different pathogens, indicating a moderate agreement between IFAT and PCR testing methods.
  • The study’s findings underscore the need for continued vigilance concerning tick-borne diseases in horses, as well as more comprehensive and cross-verifiable testing strategies to ensure accurate detection of these diseases.

Cite This Article

APA
Laus F, Veronesi F, Passamonti F, Paggi E, Cerquetella M, Hyatt D, Tesei B, Fioretti DP. (2013). Prevalence of tick borne pathogens in horses from Italy. J Vet Med Sci, 75(6), 715-720. https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.12-0449

Publication

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 1347-7439
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 75
Issue: 6
Pages: 715-720

Researcher Affiliations

Laus, Fulvio
  • School of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, 62024 Matelica (MC), Italy. fulvio.laus@unicam.it
Veronesi, Fabrizia
    Passamonti, Fabrizio
      Paggi, Emanuele
        Cerquetella, Matteo
          Hyatt, Doreene
            Tesei, Beniamino
              Fioretti, Daniela Piergili

                MeSH Terms

                • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification
                • Animals
                • Babesia / isolation & purification
                • Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
                • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
                • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
                • Horse Diseases / microbiology
                • Horse Diseases / parasitology
                • Horses
                • Italy / epidemiology
                • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
                • Prevalence
                • Theileria / isolation & purification
                • Tick-Borne Diseases / epidemiology
                • Tick-Borne Diseases / parasitology
                • Tick-Borne Diseases / veterinary

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