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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Serological and molecular detection of Babesia caballi and T...
PloS one2022; 17(3); e0264998; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264998

Serological and molecular detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Mexico: A prospective study.

Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis is a disease of horses, mules and donkeys, caused by the hemoprotozoans Babesia caballi and Theileria equi and transmitted by ticks of tropical and subtropical regions. Because the clinical signs are not specific, the diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis is difficult. In Mexico, where the environmental factors are conducive to the persistence of these pathogens, there is a lack of molecular studies to evaluate the occurrence of both parasites in horses. In the present study, matching serum and whole blood samples were obtained from 269 horses residing in 24 locations with tropical or subtropical climate and the presence of ticks. Testing of serum samples by ELISA demonstrated 55.7% seroprevalence of B. caballi and 68.4% prevalence of antibodies to T. equi. Blood samples analyzed with nPCR test were 7.8% positive to B. caballi and 78.8% positive to T. equi, while a duplex qPCR showed 15.24% positive samples to B. caballi and 59.11% to T. equi. From these results, 27 samples were sequenced for T. equi and 13 for B. caballi, confirming the presence of both horse parasites that cause equine piroplasmosis and suggesting that they are widespread in Mexico. This is the first study confirming the presence of B. caballi and T. equi in Mexico using both serological and molecular diagnostic methods. This study shows a high incidence of exposure to the etiological agents of equine piroplasmosis in horses in the studied areas.
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Publication Date: 2022-03-08 PubMed ID: 35259206PubMed Central: PMC8903245DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264998Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 article presents a comprehensive study on the occurrence of equine piroplasmosis, a disease affecting horses, mules, and donkeys, in Mexico. The research reveals widespread presence of two parasites that cause the disease, Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, as found through both serological and molecular diagnostic methods.

Research Motivation and Methodology

  • Equine piroplasmosis is a disease transmitted through ticks in tropical and subtropical regions. Critically, its clinical symptoms are vague, making it challenging to diagnose.
  • The study fills in a research gap for Mexico, a country where environmental factors favor the spread of the pathogens that cause the disease but lacks molecular studies determining their prevalence.
  • To this end, the researchers collected serum and blood samples from 269 horses across 24 locations.
  • Their selection of test locations was based on the presence of a favorable subtropical climate and the existence of ticks.

Research Findings

  • The detection of B. caballi and T. equi was first established through an ELISA test on serum samples. This test found a 55.7% and 68.4% prevalence for B. caballi and T. equi antibodies respectively, suggesting prior exposure.
  • Researchers then proceeded to conduct two Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests on blood samples, a nested PCR (nPCR) and a duplex qPCR. The former found 7.8% and 78.8% of the samples to be positive for B. caballi and T. equi, respectively. The latter showed a 15.24% positivity for B. caballi and 59.11% for T. equi.
  • From the samples that tested positive in the qPCR, 27 T. equi and 13 B. caballi samples were sequenced, further confirming the presence of both parasites.

Significance of the Study

  • This research is ground-breaking as it is the first to confirm the prevalence of B. caballi and T. equi, the agents causing equine piroplasmosis, in Mexico through both serological and molecular diagnostic methods.
  • The results have significant implications for the health management of equines in the study regions, demonstrating a high level of exposure risk to these disease-causing agents.

Cite This Article

APA
Salinas-Estrella E, Ueti MW, Lobanov VA, Castillo-Payró E, Lizcano-Mata A, Badilla C, Martínez-Ibáñez F, Mosqueda J. (2022). Serological and molecular detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Mexico: A prospective study. PLoS One, 17(3), e0264998. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0264998

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Pages: e0264998
PII: e0264998

Researcher Affiliations

Salinas-Estrella, Elizabeth
  • Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Qro, Mexico.
  • Programa de Maestría y Doctorado en Ciencias de la Producción y de la Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México.
Ueti, Massaro W
  • Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University-USDA Animal Disease Research Unit, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
Lobanov, Vladislav A
  • Centre for Food-Borne and Animal Parasitology, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Castillo-Payró, Evelio
  • Private Practice, Macultepec, Tabasco, México.
Lizcano-Mata, Amelia
  • Departamento de Clínica de Grandes Especies, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, Yucatán, México.
Badilla, César
  • Ingeniería en Producción Animal, Universidad Politécnica del Mar y la Sierra (UPMyS), La Cruz, Elota, Sinaloa, México.
Martínez-Ibáñez, Francisco
  • Laboratorio de Taxonomía, Centro Nacional de Servicios de Constatación en Sanidad Animal Servicio Nacional de Sanidad Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria-Secretaría de Agricultura Ganadería Desarrollo Rural Pesca y Alimentación, Jiutepec, Morelos, México.
Mosqueda, Juan
  • Immunology and Vaccines Laboratory, Natural Sciences College, Autonomous University of Queretaro, Queretaro, Qro, Mexico.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia / genetics
  • Babesiosis / diagnosis
  • Babesiosis / epidemiology
  • Cattle
  • Equidae / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Theileria / genetics
  • Theileriasis / diagnosis
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis / parasitology
  • Ticks / parasitology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Giubega S, Ilie MS, Luca I, Florea T, Dreghiciu C, Oprescu I, Morariu S, Dărăbuș G. Seroprevalence of Anti-Theileria equi Antibodies in Horses from Three Geographically Distinct Areas of Romania.. Pathogens 2022 Jun 9;11(6).
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