Serological and molecular detection of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Philippine horses.
Abstract: Theileria equi and Babesia caballi are tick-borne protozoan parasites that can cause anemia in horses. In the Philippines, serological detection of these parasites has only been reported in the Northern area (Luzon). In this study, 105 horses from Cebu and Bohol, Philippines were tested using peripheral blood smear examination (PBSE), immunochromatographic test (ICT) strips, and PCR. Clinical history, presenting clinical signs and complete blood count were obtained. Results revealed that although all horses were negative using PBSE, 23 (21.9%) were positive (12 for T. equi, and 11 for B. caballi) using ICT. PCR revealed 26 and 2 horses positive for T. equi and B. caballi, respectively. All positive horses showed no clinical signs. Partial DNA sequences of representative amplicons were found 100% identical to GenBank registered T. equi and B. caballi sequences. Statistical analyses revealed that location was found associated with T. equi PCR positivity and B. caballi seropositivity. This study documents the first serological detection of T. equi and B. caballi in horses in the southern area of the Philippines, and their first molecular detection and characterization in the country.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-04-18 PubMed ID: 29693550DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.04.010Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article details a study carried out in the Philippines, wherein 105 horses were tested for evidence of two tick-borne parasites (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) which can often lead to anemia in infected horses. The study reveals that these parasites have now been detected in the southern region of the country, representing their most widespread range within the Philippines yet.
Research Context
- The research focuses on two species of parasites known as Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. These are tick-borne parasites common in horses and can often lead to anemia if left untreated.
- Previous serological (blood sample) detections of these parasites in the Philippines was limited to only the northern area (Luzon).
Study Methodology
- For the study, the researchers picked 105 horses from two locations – Cebu and Bohol – in the southern part of the Philippines.
- Three testing methodologies were employed: Peripheral Blood Smear Examination (PBSE), Immunochromatographic Test (ICT) strips, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).
- The horses’ clinical histories, visible clinical signs, and complete blood counts were also collected alongside these tests.
Results & Findings
- While the PBSE tests came out negative for all horses, the ICT test identified 23 horses as positive: 12 for T. equi and 11 for B. caballi.
- Using PCR, 26 horses tested positive for T. equi, while 2 were identified as positive for B. caballi.
- It was identified that none of the positive horses displayed any clinical signs of infection.
- The DNA sequences of representative samples were matched to registered sequences of T. equi and B. caballi in the GenBank database, confirming the identity of the parasites.
Conclusions
- Statistical analysis of the results identified an association between location and parasite positivity. This was true for T. equi’s PCR positivity and B. caballi’s seropositivity (positive in blood tests).
- This is the first time serological detection of these parasites has been documented in the southern Philippines. Furthermore, this is the first molecular detection and characterization of these parasites ever in the country.
Cite This Article
APA
Ybañez AP, Ybañez RHD, Talle MG, Arreglo RMT, Geens MJC, Villas JGI, Villar SR, Laruga CL, Cao S, Moumouni FPA, Liu M, Igarashi I, Xuan X.
(2018).
Serological and molecular detection of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Philippine horses.
Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 9(5), 1125-1128.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2018.04.010 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Veterinary Medicine at Barili Campus and College of Arts and Sciences at Main Campus, Cebu Technological University, Corner M.J. Cuenco Ave. and R. Palma St., Cebu City 6000, Philippines; Department of Research, Gullas College of Medicine, University of the Visayas, Cebu, Philippines; College of Science, University of the Philippines Cebu, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City 6000, Philippines.
- College of Science, University of the Philippines Cebu, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City 6000, Philippines; National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- College of Veterinary Medicine at Barili Campus and College of Arts and Sciences at Main Campus, Cebu Technological University, Corner M.J. Cuenco Ave. and R. Palma St., Cebu City 6000, Philippines; Department of Research, Gullas College of Medicine, University of the Visayas, Cebu, Philippines; Southwestern University, Villa Aznar, Urgello St., Cebu City 6000, Philippines.
- Southwestern University, Villa Aznar, Urgello St., Cebu City 6000, Philippines.
- Southwestern University, Villa Aznar, Urgello St., Cebu City 6000, Philippines.
- Southwestern University, Villa Aznar, Urgello St., Cebu City 6000, Philippines.
- College of Science, University of the Philippines Cebu, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City 6000, Philippines.
- College of Science, University of the Philippines Cebu, Gorordo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City 6000, Philippines.
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan. Electronic address: gen@obihiro.ac.jp.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesia / genetics
- Babesia / immunology
- Babesia / isolation & purification
- Babesiosis / blood
- Babesiosis / diagnosis
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- Babesiosis / parasitology
- Chromatography, Affinity
- DNA, Protozoan / genetics
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Philippines / epidemiology
- Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
- Serologic Tests
- Theileria / genetics
- Theileria / immunology
- Theileria / isolation & purification
- Theileriasis / blood
- Theileriasis / diagnostic imaging
- Theileriasis / epidemiology
- Theileriasis / parasitology
- Ticks / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Galon EM, Macalanda AM, Garcia MM, Ibasco CJ, Garvida A, Ji S, Zafar I, Hasegawa Y, Liu M, Ybañez RH, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Ybañez A, Claveria F, Xuan X. Molecular Identification of Selected Tick-Borne Protozoan and Bacterial Pathogens in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Cavite, Philippines. Pathogens 2021 Oct 13;10(10).
- Torres R, Hurtado C, Pérez-Macchi S, Bittencourt P, Freschi C, de Mello VVC, Machado RZ, André MR, Müller A. Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Chilean Thoroughbred Racing Horses. Pathogens 2021 Jun 7;10(6).
- Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Fry LM, Knowles DP, Steinman A. Twenty Years of Equine Piroplasmosis Research: Global Distribution, Molecular Diagnosis, and Phylogeny. Pathogens 2020 Nov 8;9(11).
- Onyiche TE, Taioe MO, Molefe NI, Biu AA, Luka J, Omeh IJ, Yokoyama N, Thekisoe O. Equine piroplasmosis: an insight into global exposure of equids from 1990 to 2019 by systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasitology 2020 Nov;147(13):1411-1424.
- Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 May 16;16(10).
- Dao TTH, Szűts T, Duong NN, Troung DTQ, Solymosi N, Takács N, Hornok S, Farkas R. The first molecular detection of equine piroplasmosis in Vietnam and genetic characterization of three co-circulating genotypes of Theileria equi. Parasitol Res 2026 Feb 5;125(1):14.
- Cui Y, Cao M, Yu F, Zhao A, Tao D, Zhu T, Zhang Z, Qi M. Molecular detection of piroplasms in domestic donkeys in Xinjiang, China. Vet Med Sci 2024 Jul;10(4):e1468.
- Axt CW, Springer A, Strube C, Jung C, Naucke TJ, Müller E, Schäfer I. Molecular and Serological Detection of Vector-Borne Pathogens Responsible for Equine Piroplasmosis in Europe between 2008 and 2021. Microorganisms 2024 Apr 17;12(4).
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