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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Res Commun / Prevalence rates of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in th...
Veterinary research communications2025; 49(3); 151; doi: 10.1007/s11259-025-10722-y

Prevalence rates of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in the horse population of northern Spain: a serological and molecular study.

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP), a tick-borne disease caused by Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, is of significant concern due to its impact on the international horse trade. According to standards established by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), horses imported from EP-endemic regions must have a certificate confirming negative serological and molecular test results. In EP-free countries, only seronegative horses are allowed to enter. This entails economic losses for endemic regions such as Spain. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence of B. caballi and T. equi in horses from northern Spain and to compare indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT) with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) regarding diagnostic accuracy. In March 2019, blood samples were collected from 50 horses at a slaughterhouse in Zaragoza. The horses originated from meat farms in the Pyrenees and Cantabrian coastal regions, including northern Cantabria, the Basque Country, and Navarre. Serological results revealed a prevalence of 50% for B. caballi, 30% for T. equi, and 16% for mixed infections, with an overall EP prevalence of 64%. PCR results confirmed 22% positive for B. caballi, 42% for T. equi, and 16% for both parasites in one animal, showing an overall EP prevalence of 54%. Our study underscores the critical need for combining serological and molecular diagnostic tests to accurately identify carriers and active infections, with the goal of ensuring safe animal movement and controlling EP transmission.
© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-24 PubMed ID: 40126690PubMed Central: 7410871DOI: 10.1007/s11259-025-10722-yGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research explores the prevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, the parasites causing Equine piroplasmosis (EP), in horses in northern Spain. The study also compares diagnostic accuracy between the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Research Context and Objectives

  • This study focuses on understanding the prevalence of Equine piroplasmosis (EP) – a disease caused by parasites Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, and carried by ticks – in horses of the Northern Spain region.
  • EP is of crucial significance due to its effect on the global horse trade. The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) mandates that horses imported from EP-endemic regions must have negative serological and molecular test results. Furthermore, in countries free from EP, only previously tested negative horses are permitted entrance.
  • This can result in economic losses for endemic regions such as Spain. Hence, finding accurate methods to identify the prevalence of these parasites is essential.
  • The main goal of the study is to assess the prevalence of B. caballi and T. equi in horses from Northern Spain and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of indirect fluorescent antibody tests (IFAT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Research Methodology

  • In March 2019, the researchers collected blood samples from 50 horses at a Zaragoza-based slaughterhouse. The horses were from meat farms in various parts of the Pyrenees and Cantabrian coastal regions, including northern Cantabria, the Basque Country, and Navarre.
  • They employed serological and molecular diagnostic tests – specifically IFAT and PCR – to assess the prevalence of B. caballi and T. equi.

Results and Implications

  • Serological test results revealed a prevalence of 50% for B. caballi, 30% for T. equi, and 16% for mixed infections, with an overall EP prevalence of 64% in the tested population.
  • PCR test results confirmed 22% positivity for B. caballi, 42% for T. equi, and 16% for both parasites in one animal – leading to an overall EP prevalence of 54%.
  • The study highlights the necessity of combining serological and molecular diagnostic tests to correctly identify parasite carriers and active infections.
  • These findings are particularly significant as they can help ensure safer animal movement and control the spread of EP. This underscores the importance of the research in informing policy and regulations related to international horse trade.

Cite This Article

APA
Peris MP, Serrano M, Romero A, García M, Halaihel N, Castillo JA, Gracia MJ. (2025). Prevalence rates of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in the horse population of northern Spain: a serological and molecular study. Vet Res Commun, 49(3), 151. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11259-025-10722-y

Publication

Veterinary research communications
ISSN: 1573-7446
NlmUniqueID: 8100520
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 3
Pages: 151

Researcher Affiliations

Peris, María Paz
  • Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain. pazperis@unizar.es.
Serrano, María
  • Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Romero, Antonio
  • Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
García, Mirta
  • Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Halaihel, Nabil
  • Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Castillo, Juan Antonio
  • Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.
Gracia, María Jesús
  • Department of Animal Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Babesiosis / blood
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Theileria / isolation & purification
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis / parasitology
  • Babesia / isolation & purification
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesia / immunology
  • Prevalence
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / veterinary
  • Male
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declarations. Ethics approval: Due to the nature of the data that had to be collected and analyzed, it was not necessary for us to obtain a report from the Ethics Advisory Committee for Animal Experimentation at the University of Zaragoza. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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