Serological evidence for Babesia canis infection of horses and an endemic focus of B. caballi in Hungary.
Abstract: In order to evaluate the seroconversion of horses to Babesia caballi and B. canis in Hungary, blood samples were collected from 371 animals on 23 different locations of the country. The presence of antibodies to B. caballi was screened with a competitive ELISA. All 29 positive samples came from one region (the Hortobágy). The prevalence of infection did not show correlation with sexes, and reached 100% in the age group of 2-5 years. Babesia canis-specific antibodies were demonstrated by IFAT in 6.74% of animals kept in 7 regions. The titres were low or medium level (1:40 to 1:160), indicating that the horses had previously been exposed to this piroplasm, but their infection must have been limited. The highest seropositivity rate was observed in the age group of 3-4 years, and males (stallions and geldings) were significantly more frequently infected than females. However, neither B. caballi nor B. canis could be identified in the peripheral blood samples of infected horses by PCR. Since most of the B. caballi-positive horses remained negative in the B. canis IFAT, whereas seroconversion solely to B. canis was detected in several regions of the country, serological cross-reaction between the two species can be discounted. This is the first serological evidence of horses being naturally infected with B. canis, supporting the view that piroplasms are less host specific than previously thought.
Publication Date: 2008-02-19 PubMed ID: 18277708DOI: 10.1556/AVet.55.2007.4.8Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
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 paper investigates the infection of horses with two Babesia species—B. caballi and B. canis—in Hungary. From multiple locations across the country, researchers collected blood samples from 371 horses to examine the presence of antibodies to these two species. Results suggested that B. caballi was region-specific, while the presence of B. canis was broader. However, the researchers did not find any instances of the two species in the horses’ blood samples through PCR testing.
Methodology
- The study involved analysis of blood samples collected from 371 horses across 23 different locations in Hungary to investigate exposure to B. caballi and B. canis.
- The detection of antibodies to B. caballi was done using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- The antibodies specific to B. canis were identified through an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT).
Findings
- Among the sampled horses, all 29 positive for B. caballi came from one particular region called Hortobágy, indicating a regional concentration of this infection.
- The infection prevalence revealed no correlation with the horses’ sex but was found 100% present in 2-5-year-old horses for B. caballi.
- For B. canis, antibodies were detected in 6.74% of the horses from 7 regions, with low to medium titres (1:40 to 1:160), suggesting a previous exposure to the piroplasm.
- The most prevalent B. canis infections were seen in 3-4-year-old horses, with males more frequently infected than females.
PCR Tests and Cross-Reaction
- PCR tests conducted on the infected blood samples produced negative results for both B. caballi and B. canis.
- Most of the B. caballi-positive horses tested negative for the B. canis IFAT, and cross-reactivity between the two species was ruled out as B. canis alone was also detected in several regions.
Implications
- The study underscores the first serological evidence of horses being naturally infected with B. canis, thereby challenging the belief that piroplasms are highly host-specific.
- The findings suggest that B. caballi infections are more region-specific, while B. canis can be found across multiple locations.
Cite This Article
APA
Hornok S, Edelhofer R, Földvári G, Joachim A, Farkas R.
(2008).
Serological evidence for Babesia canis infection of horses and an endemic focus of B. caballi in Hungary.
Acta Vet Hung, 55(4), 491-500.
https://doi.org/10.1556/AVet.55.2007.4.8 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Parasitology and Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1078 Budapest, István u. 2, Hungary. Hornok.Sandor@aotk.szie.hu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Babesia / classification
- Babesia / isolation & purification
- Babesiosis / blood
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- Babesiosis / parasitology
- Babesiosis / veterinary
- Endemic Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / blood
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Hungary / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Zygner W, Gójska-Zygner O, Bartosik J, Górski P, Karabowicz J, Kotomski G, Norbury LJ. Canine Babesiosis Caused by Large Babesia Species: Global Prevalence and Risk Factors-A Review.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 13;13(16).
- Bajer A, Beck A, Beck R, Behnke JM, Dwużnik-Szarek D, Eichenberger RM, Farkas R, Fuehrer HP, Heddergott M, Jokelainen P, Leschnik M, Oborina V, Paulauskas A, Radzijevskaja J, Ranka R, Schnyder M, Springer A, Strube C, Tolkacz K, Walochnik J. Babesiosis in Southeastern, Central and Northeastern Europe: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Tick-Borne Disease of Humans and Animals.. Microorganisms 2022 Apr 30;10(5).
- Nadal C, Marsot M, Le Metayer G, Boireau P, Guillot J, Bonnet SI. Spatial and Temporal Circulation of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in France Based on Seven Years of Serological Data.. Pathogens 2022 Feb 9;11(2).
- Dirks E, de Heus P, Joachim A, Cavalleri JV, Schwendenwein I, Melchert M, Fuehrer HP. First Case of Autochthonous Equine Theileriosis in Austria.. Pathogens 2021 Mar 4;10(3).
- Ionita M, Nicorescu IM, Pfister K, Mitrea IL. Parasitological and molecular diagnostic of a clinical Babesia caballi outbreak in Southern Romania.. Parasitol Res 2018 Jul;117(7):2333-2339.
- Omondi D, Masiga DK, Fielding BC, Kariuki E, Ajamma YU, Mwamuye MM, Ouso DO, Villinger J. Molecular Detection of Tick-Borne Pathogen Diversities in Ticks from Livestock and Reptiles along the Shores and Adjacent Islands of Lake Victoria and Lake Baringo, Kenya.. Front Vet Sci 2017;4:73.
- Hornok S, Estók P, Kováts D, Flaisz B, Takács N, Szőke K, Krawczyk A, Kontschán J, Gyuranecz M, Fedák A, Farkas R, Haarsma AJ, Sprong H. Screening of bat faeces for arthropod-borne apicomplexan protozoa: Babesia canis and Besnoitia besnoiti-like sequences from Chiroptera.. Parasit Vectors 2015 Aug 28;8:441.
- Wang M, Guo W, Igarashi I, Xuan X, Wang X, Xiang W, Jia H. Epidemiological investigation of equine piroplasmosis in China by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.. J Vet Med Sci 2014 Apr;76(4):549-52.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
