Seroepidemiological survey of Rhodoccocus equi infection in asymptomatic horses from Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul provinces, Turkey.
Abstract: In order to assess the Rhodococcus equi infection in three provinces of Turkey (Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul), 696 sera from healthy foals and adult horses were tested by indirect ELISA using a R. equi reference strain (ATCC 6939) as antigen. 103 sera (14.80%) with titres >0.646 resulted positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (P=0.0053) in male than in female horses of Istanbul province, although higher antibody titres (mean value) were observed in the female group of Bursa and Izmir provinces with differences estimated between provinces (P=0.0002). Seroprevalence was correlated with age: foals aged less than 1 year (P<10(-4)) and horses from 5 to 10 years old (P=0.018) resulted more infected in Bursa and Izmir provinces. Our findings indicate that R. equi infection actually occurs in all investigated provinces, suggesting the importance of serological survey to diagnose the infection and to prevent the zoonotic risk.
Publication Date: 2006-10-10 PubMed ID: 17034856DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2006.08.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research focuses on the evaluation of the Rhodococcus equi infection in horses from three provinces in Turkey (Bursa, Izmir, and Istanbul) using a test called indirect ELISA, with results indicating the infection is prevalent and varies by factors such as age and gender.
Methodology
- The study used an indirect ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) test, a common laboratory technique that uses antibodies and enzymes to detect antigens (molecules that cause an immune response).
- The antigen used in this study was a reference strain of R. equi, a bacteria known to cause illness in foals and young horses and is zoonotic, meaning it can pass from animals to humans.
- The study assessed 696 serum samples collected from healthy foals and horses from three provinces in Turkey: Bursa, Izmir, and Istanbul.
Results
- Out of the tested sera, 103 (approximately 14.8%) showed a positive result for the R. equi infection.
- The rate of positive results was significantly higher in male horses from Istanbul compared to females, though a higher average value of antibodies was observed in female horses from Bursa and Izmir.
- The seroprevalence (the level of a pathogen in a population, as measured in blood serum) varied between provinces.
Implications
- The study associates the occurrence of R. equi infection with factors like province, gender, and age of the horse.
- Foals less than a year old and horses from 5 to 10 years were found to be more susceptible to R. equi infection in Bursa and Izmir.
- The infection was found to be present in all investigated provinces, indicating the widespread prevalence of R. equi among the horse population in these areas.
Significance
- The conclusion amplifies the importance of constant monitoring and serological testing to diagnose R. equi infection promptly, given the potential zoonotic risk it poses.
- Infections that can pass from animals to humans (zoonotic) can have severe public health impacts and need effective control and prevention strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Attili AR, Kennerman E, Takai S, Or ME, Marenzoni ML, Torun S, Pieramati C, Kayar A, Golcu E, Parkan C, Yilmaz Z, Gonul R, Valente C, Cuteri V.
(2006).
Seroepidemiological survey of Rhodoccocus equi infection in asymptomatic horses from Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul provinces, Turkey.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis, 29(5-6), 323-333.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2006.08.002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, Camerino University, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, Matelica, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Actinomycetales Infections / epidemiology
- Actinomycetales Infections / veterinary
- Aging
- Animals
- Antibodies, Bacterial / analysis
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Male
- Rhodococcus equi / immunology
- Rhodococcus equi / isolation & purification
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Turkey / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Nielsen SS, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Kohnle L, Alvarez J. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): antimicrobial-resistant Rhodococcus equi in horses. EFSA J 2022 Feb;20(2):e07081.
- Tirosh-Levy S, Gürbilek SE, Tel OY, Keskin O, Steinman A. Seroprevalence of Rhodococcus equi in horses in Israel. J S Afr Vet Assoc 2017 Jun 26;88(0):e1-e6.
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