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Veterinary parasitology2016; 226; 132-137; doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.07.008

Prospective study investigating transplacental transmission of equine piroplasmosis in thoroughbred foals in Trinidad.

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi is endemic in Trinidad and Tobago. Transmission occurs by ticks of the family Ixodidae. T. equi can also be transmitted transplacentally; however transplacental transmission of B. caballi is unknown. This study aims to investigate transplacental transmission of equine piroplasmosis from thoroughbred mares naturally infected via the tick vector. Whole blood and serum samples were collected from 117 mares in the fifth month of pregnancy. Blood samples were also collected from each of their foals (89 in total) within the first 36h of birth. Additionally, all foals were observed for clinical signs within 30days post - partum. All samples were examined microscopically for intra-erythrocytic piroplasms. Serum ELISA tests and PCR analysis on whole blood were performed to determine the presence of T. equi and B. caballi. Thirty-four (30.6%) mares and 14 (15.7%) of their foals were seropositive for T. equi. Twenty-seven (24.3%) mares were positive for T. equi by conventional (c) PCR. Real time (q) PCR analysis based on the ema - 1 gene revealed that seven (8%) foals were positive for T. equi. Eighty-nine (76.1%) mares and 38 (42.7%) foals were seropositive for B. caballi. Four (3.4%) mares were positive for B. caballi by cPCR. Three out of the four cPCR positive mares either had resorptions, or stillbirths for that pregnancy. From this study, there is strong evidence that transplacental transmission of B. caballi can occur leading to foetal losses. Six foals (7%) were positive for B. caballi by qPCR. Of these six, four were born to B. caballi seropositive mares. In this study a foal born of a T. equi seropositive mare was 55.7 times more likely to be serologically positive for T. equi than a foal born to a T. equi seronegative mare. Similarly a foal born of a B. caballi seropositive mare was 39.4 times more likely to be serologically positive for B. caballi than a foal born to a mare that was serologically negative for B. caballi at the fifth month of pregnancy. This is as a result of the ingestion of colostrum containing antibodies to these pathogens. Mares should be screened during pregnancy and their foals closely monitored at parturition for evidence of equine piroplasmosis so that treatment can be implemented earlier for a better prognosis.
Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2016-07-10 PubMed ID: 27514898DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.07.008Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research paper conducts a study to understand the transplacental transmission of equine piroplasmosis in thoroughbred horses in Trinidad. Equine piroplasmosis, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, can be transmitted from an infected mare to its foal, leading to various health complications.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers collected whole blood and serum samples from 117 mares during their fifth month of pregnancy. The same was done for their foals within the first 36 hours of birth.
  • In additionally, newborn foals were observed for any clinical signs within the first 30 days after birth.
  • These samples were scrutinized under a microscope for the presence of intra-erythrocytic piroplasms, which are hosts for the parasitic pathogens causing equine piroplasmosis.
  • Serum ELISA tests and PCR analysis were carried out to detect the presence of the pathogens: T. equi and B. caballi.

Research Findings

  • A total of 30.6% mares and 15.7% of their foals were found to be seropositive for T. equi.
  • 24.3% mares were positive for T. equi by conventional (c)PCR.
  • Using the ema-1 gene-based qPCR analysis, 8% foals were positive for T. equi.
  • Simultaneously, 76.1% mares and 42.7% foals were seropositive for B. caballi. When tested with cPCR, 3.4% mares were found positive for B. caballi.
  • It was observed that out of the four cPCR positive mares for B. caballi, three mares either had resorptions or stillbirths for that pregnancy. This finding suggests that transplacental transmission of B. caballi can lead to fetal losses.
  • The qPCR analysis showed that 7% foals were positive for B. caballi, out of which four were born to B. caballi seropositive mares.

Conclusions

  • The study revealed that a foal born from a T. equi seropositive mare was 55.7 times more likely to be serologically positive for T. equi. Similarly, a foal born from a B. caballi seropositive mare had a 39.4 times higher chance of being serologically positive for B. caballi.
  • This was attributed to the ingestion of colostrum containing antibodies to these pathogens. Thus, the authors recommend that mares should be screened during pregnancy and the newborn foals should be closely monitored at parturition for evidence of equine piroplasmosis.
  • Early detection allows for timely treatment, leading to a better prognosis for the foals.

Cite This Article

APA
Sant C, d'Abadie R, Pargass I, Basu AK, Asgarali Z, Charles RA, Georges KC. (2016). Prospective study investigating transplacental transmission of equine piroplasmosis in thoroughbred foals in Trinidad. Vet Parasitol, 226, 132-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.07.008

Publication

Veterinary parasitology
ISSN: 1873-2550
NlmUniqueID: 7602745
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 226
Pages: 132-137
PII: S0304-4017(16)30267-9

Researcher Affiliations

Sant, Candice
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, EWMSC, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago. Electronic address: Candice.Sant@sta.uwi.edu.
d'Abadie, Roger
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, EWMSC, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.
Pargass, Indira
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, EWMSC, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.
Basu, Asoke K
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, EWMSC, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.
Asgarali, Zinora
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, EWMSC, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.
Charles, Roxanne A
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, EWMSC, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.
Georges, Karla C
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, EWMSC, Mt. Hope, Trinidad and Tobago.

MeSH Terms

  • Abortion, Veterinary / epidemiology
  • Abortion, Veterinary / parasitology
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesia / immunology
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Babesiosis / parasitology
  • Babesiosis / transmission
  • DNA, Protozoan / blood
  • DNA, Protozoan / isolation & purification
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / transmission
  • Horses
  • Logistic Models
  • Placenta / parasitology
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / parasitology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / veterinary
  • Risk Factors
  • Spleen / parasitology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Theileria / immunology
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis / parasitology
  • Theileriasis / transmission
  • Trinidad and Tobago / epidemiology

Citations

This article has been cited 18 times.
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