FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Microorganisms / Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Patho...
Microorganisms2021; 9(2); 373; doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9020373

Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Horses, Romania.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of selected tick-borne-pathogens (TBPs) among Romanian horses. For this, a total of 223 animals originating from north, central, and southeast Romania, including horses from stud farms ( = 118) and working horses ( = 105), were tested using a commercial rapid ELISA-based test. Overall, 10.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.7-15.1%) of the tested horses were seropositive for antibodies (Ab) against Additionally, 18.8% (95% CI: 13.9-24.6%) and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.01-2.5%) of horses were seropositive for Ab against sensu lato and spp., respectively. Among the tested horses, 3.1% were seroreactive to two or three pathogens. These findings show the natural exposure of Romanian horses to zoonotic tick-borne pathogens and emphasize the need for further studies to better understand the epidemiology of equine tick-borne diseases in Romania.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-02-12 PubMed ID: 33673353PubMed Central: PMC7917970DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020373Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 article focuses on the investigation of the prevalence of certain tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) in Romanian horses using an ELISA-based test.

Objective of the Study

  • The primary objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of certain tick-borne pathogens, also known as TBPs, in horses located in different parts of Romania.

Methodology

  • A total of 223 horses from various regions of Romania, including the north, central, and southeast areas were sampled for the study, with a division into horses from stud farms (118) and working horses (105).
  • The horses were tested with a commercial rapid ELISA-based immunoassay to identify whether they had developed antibodies against specific TBPs, thereby indicating their exposure to the pathogens.

Findings

  • 10.3% of the tested horses were found to have developed antibodies, thus indicated that they had been exposed to the first mentioned pathogen. The 95% Confidence Interval (CI) for this result was 6.7-15.1%.
  • Secondly, 18.8% of horses were found to be seropositive for antibodies against sensu lato, suggesting they had also been exposed to this particular TBP. The 95% CI for this was 13.9-24.6%.
  • Only 0.5% of the tested horses were found to be seropositive for antibodies against spp, indicating exposure to this TBP, with a 95% CI of 0.01-2.5%.
  • 3.1% of the horses tested were reactive to two or three of these pathogens, showing that they had been exposed to more than one TBP.

Conclusion

  • The findings of the study demonstrate that Romanian horses have been naturally exposed to various zoonotic tick-borne pathogens.
  • The authors stress the need for additional research to gain a better understanding of the epidemiology of equine tick-borne diseases in Romania.

Cite This Article

APA
Bogdan AM, Ionita M, Mitrea IL. (2021). Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Horses, Romania. Microorganisms, 9(2), 373. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms9020373

Publication

Microorganisms
ISSN: 2076-2607
NlmUniqueID: 101625893
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
PII: 373

Researcher Affiliations

Bogdan, Andreea Monica
  • Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases & Animal Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 11464 Bucharest, Romania.
Ionita, Mariana
  • Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases & Animal Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 11464 Bucharest, Romania.
Mitrea, Ioan Liviu
  • Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases & Animal Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 11464 Bucharest, Romania.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 45 references
  1. Parola P, Paddock CD, Socolovschi C, Labruna MB, Mediannikov O, Kernif T, Abdad MY, Stenos J, Bitam I, Fournier PE, Raoult D. Update on tick-borne rickettsioses around the world: a geographic approach.. Clin Microbiol Rev 2013 Oct;26(4):657-702.
    doi: 10.1128/CMR.00032-13pmc: PMC3811236pubmed: 24092850google scholar: lookup
  2. Edouard S, Koebel C, Goehringer F, Socolovschi C, Jaulhac B, Raoult D, Brouqui P. Emergence of human granulocytic anaplasmosis in France.. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2012 Dec;3(5-6):403-5.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2012.10.002pubmed: 23182272google scholar: lookup
  3. Stuen S, Granquist EG, Silaghi C. Anaplasma phagocytophilum--a widespread multi-host pathogen with highly adaptive strategies.. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013;3:31.
    doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00031pmc: PMC3717505pubmed: 23885337google scholar: lookup
  4. Baneth G. Tick-borne infections of animals and humans: a common ground.. Int J Parasitol 2014 Aug;44(9):591-6.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.03.011pubmed: 24846527google scholar: lookup
  5. Rizzoli A, Hauffe H, Carpi G, Vourc H G, Neteler M, Rosa R. Lyme borreliosis in Europe.. Euro Surveill 2011 Jul 7;16(27).
    pubmed: 21794218
  6. Dumler JS, Barbet AF, Bekker CP, Dasch GA, Palmer GH, Ray SC, Rikihisa Y, Rurangirwa FR. Reorganization of genera in the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales: unification of some species of Ehrlichia with Anaplasma, Cowdria with Ehrlichia and Ehrlichia with Neorickettsia, descriptions of six new species combinations and designation of Ehrlichia equi and 'HGE agent' as subjective synonyms of Ehrlichia phagocytophila.. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2001 Nov;51(Pt 6):2145-2165.
    pubmed: 11760958doi: 10.1099/00207713-51-6-2145google scholar: lookup
  7. Jin H, Wei F, Liu Q, Qian J. Epidemiology and control of human granulocytic anaplasmosis: a systematic review.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2012 Apr;12(4):269-74.
    doi: 10.1089/vbz.2011.0753pubmed: 22217177google scholar: lookup
  8. Bermann F, Davoust B, Fournier PE, Brisou-Lapointe AV, Brouqui P. Ehrlichia equi (Anaplasma phagocytophila) infection in an adult horse in France.. Vet Rec 2002 Jun 22;150(25):787-8.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.150.25.787pubmed: 12135075google scholar: lookup
  9. Butler CM, Nijhof AM, Jongejan F, van der Kolk JH. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in horses in the Netherlands.. Vet Rec 2008 Feb 16;162(7):216-7.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.162.7.216pubmed: 18281631google scholar: lookup
  10. Jahn P, Zeman P, Bezdekova B, Praskova I. Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis in the Czech Republic.. Vet Rec 2010 May 22;166(21):646-9.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.4852pubmed: 20495165google scholar: lookup
  11. Gussmann K, Czech C, Hermann M, Schaarschmidt-Kiener D, von Loewenich FD. Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in a horse from Switzerland with severe neurological symptoms.. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2014 Jul;156(7):345-8.
    doi: 10.1024/0036-7281/a000605pubmed: 24973323google scholar: lookup
  12. Jahfari S, Coipan EC, Fonville M, van Leeuwen AD, Hengeveld P, Heylen D, Heyman P, van Maanen C, Butler CM, Földvári G, Szekeres S, van Duijvendijk G, Tack W, Rijks JM, van der Giessen J, Takken W, van Wieren SE, Takumi K, Sprong H. Circulation of four Anaplasma phagocytophilum ecotypes in Europe.. Parasit Vectors 2014 Aug 15;7:365.
    doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-365pmc: PMC4153903pubmed: 25127547google scholar: lookup
  13. Butler CM, Houwers DJ, Jongejan F, van der Kolk JH. Borrelia burgdorferi infections with special reference to horses. A review.. Vet Q 2005 Dec;27(4):146-56.
    doi: 10.1080/01652176.2002.9695196pubmed: 16402512google scholar: lookup
  14. Divers TJ, Gardner RB, Madigan JE, Witonsky SG, Bertone JJ, Swinebroad EL, Schutzer SE, Johnson AL. Borrelia burgdorferi Infection and Lyme Disease in North American Horses: A Consensus Statement.. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):617-632.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.15042pmc: PMC5866975pubmed: 29469222google scholar: lookup
  15. Ionita M, Mitrea IL, Pfister K, Hamel D, Silaghi C. Molecular evidence for bacterial and protozoan pathogens in hard ticks from Romania.. Vet Parasitol 2013 Sep 1;196(1-2):71-6.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2013.01.016pubmed: 23428204google scholar: lookup
  16. Matei IA, Kalmár Z, Magdaş C, Magdaş V, Toriay H, Dumitrache MO, Ionică AM, D'Amico G, Sándor AD, Mărcuţan DI, Domşa C, Gherman CM, Mihalca AD. Anaplasma phagocytophilum in questing Ixodes ricinus ticks from Romania.. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2015 Apr;6(3):408-13.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.03.010pubmed: 25838178google scholar: lookup
  17. Dumitrache MO, Matei IA, Ionică AM, Kalmár Z, D'Amico G, Sikó-Barabási S, Ionescu DT, Gherman CM, Mihalca AD. Molecular detection of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) from Romania.. Parasit Vectors 2015 Oct 8;8:514.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-015-1130-9pmc: PMC4599586pubmed: 26449360google scholar: lookup
  18. Matei IA, D'Amico G, Ionică AM, Kalmár Z, Corduneanu A, Sándor AD, Fiţ N, Bogdan L, Gherman CM, Mihalca AD. New records for Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in small mammal species.. Parasit Vectors 2018 Mar 20;11(1):193.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-018-2791-ypmc: PMC5859413pubmed: 29558990google scholar: lookup
  19. Coipan EC, Vladimirescu AF. Ixodes ricinus ticks (Acari: Ixodidae): vectors for Lyme disease spirochetes in Romania.. Exp Appl Acarol 2011 Jul;54(3):293-300.
    doi: 10.1007/s10493-011-9438-4pubmed: 21431930google scholar: lookup
  20. Hansen MG, Christoffersen M, Thuesen LR, Petersen MR, Bojesen AM. Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Danish horses.. Acta Vet Scand 2010 Jan 18;52(1):3.
    doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-52-3pmc: PMC2818635pubmed: 20082693google scholar: lookup
  21. Maurizi L, Marié JL, Courtin C, Gorsane S, Chal D, Davoust B. Seroprevalence survey of equine anaplasmosis in France and in sub-Saharan Africa.. Clin Microbiol Infect 2009 Dec;15 Suppl 2:68-9.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.02191.xpubmed: 19793122google scholar: lookup
  22. O'Nion VL, Montilla HJ, Qurollo BA, Maggi RG, Hegarty BC, Tornquist SJ, Breitschwerdt EB. Potentially novel Ehrlichia species in horses, Nicaragua.. Emerg Infect Dis 2015 Feb;21(2):335-8.
    doi: 10.3201/eid2102.140290pmc: PMC4313632pubmed: 25625228google scholar: lookup
  23. Chandrashekar R, Daniluk D, Moffitt S, Lorentzen L, Williams J. Serologic diagnosis of equine borreliosis: Evaluation of an in-clinic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (SNAP® 4Dx®). Intern. J. Appl. Res. Vet. Med. 2008;6:145–150.
  24. Gallusová M, Qablan MA, D'Amico G, Oborník M, Petrželková KJ, Mihalca AD, Modrý D. Piroplasms in feral and domestic equines in rural areas of the Danube Delta, Romania, with survey of dogs as a possible reservoir.. Vet Parasitol 2014 Dec 15;206(3-4):287-92.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.10.018pubmed: 25468026google scholar: lookup
  25. 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.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-018-5899-2pubmed: 29766270google scholar: lookup
  26. Tsachev I, Baymakova M, Pantchev N. Seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in horses: first report from Northern Bulgaria - Short communication.. Acta Vet Hung 2019 Jun;67(2):197-203.
    doi: 10.1556/004.2019.021pubmed: 31238733google scholar: lookup
  27. Tsachev I, Pantchev N, Marutsov P, Petrov V, Gundasheva D, Baymakova M. Serological Evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Ehrlichia Spp. Infections in Horses from Southeastern Bulgaria.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2018 Nov;18(11):588-594.
    doi: 10.1089/vbz.2018.2293pubmed: 29969382google scholar: lookup
  28. Giudice E, Giannetto C, Furco V, Alongi A, Torina A. Anaplasma phagocytophilum seroprevalence in equids: a survey in Sicily (Italy).. Parasitol Res 2012 Aug;111(2):951-5.
    doi: 10.1007/s00436-012-2854-5pubmed: 22362364google scholar: lookup
  29. Laus F, Veronesi F, Passamonti F, Paggi E, Cerquetella M, Hyatt D, Tesei B, Fioretti DP. Prevalence of tick borne pathogens in horses from Italy.. J Vet Med Sci 2013;75(6):715-20.
    doi: 10.1292/jvms.12-0449pubmed: 23328633google scholar: lookup
  30. Veronesi F, Morganti G, Ravagnan S, Laus F, Spaterna A, Diaferia M, Moretti A, Fioretti DP, Capelli G. Molecular and serological detection of tick-borne pathogens in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Italy.. Vet Microbiol 2014 Oct 10;173(3-4):348-54.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2014.08.017pubmed: 25213231google scholar: lookup
  31. Leblond A, Pradier S, Pitel PH, Fortier G, Boireau P, Chadoeuf J, Sabatier P. [An epidemiological survey of equine anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum) in southern France].. Rev Sci Tech 2005 Dec;24(3):899-908.
    doi: 10.20506/rst.24.3.1612pubmed: 16642760google scholar: lookup
  32. Engvall EO, Egenvall A. Granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Swedish dogs and horses.. Int J Med Microbiol 2002 Jun;291 Suppl 33:100-3.
    doi: 10.1016/S1438-4221(02)80019-4pubmed: 12141731google scholar: lookup
  33. Amusategui I, Sainz A, Tesouro MA. Serological evaluation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection in livestock in northwestern Spain.. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2006 Oct;1078:487-90.
    doi: 10.1196/annals.1374.091pubmed: 17114760google scholar: lookup
  34. Santos AS, Bacellar F, Dumler JS. A 4-year study of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in Portugal.. Clin Microbiol Infect 2009 Dec;15 Suppl 2:46-7.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.02172.xpubmed: 20584163google scholar: lookup
  35. Anghel R.G., Mitrea I.L., Ionita M. Retrospective study on prevalence of canine vector borne diseases in Bucharest area. Rev. Rom. Med. Vet. 2016;26:27–32.
  36. Ionita M, Enachescu V, Mitrea I. Preliminary data on serological survey of exposure to arthropod-borne pathogens in stray dogs from Bucharest, Romania. Sci. Work. Ser. C. Vet. Med. 2012;58:220–225.
  37. Kiss T, Cadar D, Krupaci AF, Bordeanu A, Brudaşcă GF, Mihalca AD, Mircean V, Gliga L, Dumitrache MO, Spînu M. Serological reactivity to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in dogs and horses from distinct areas in Romania.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2011 Sep;11(9):1259-62.
    doi: 10.1089/vbz.2010.0254pubmed: 21612524google scholar: lookup
  38. Egenvall A, Franzén P, Gunnarsson A, Engvall EO, Vågsholm I, Wikström UB, Artursson K. Cross-sectional study of the seroprevalence to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and granulocytic Ehrlichia spp. and demographic, clinical and tick-exposure factors in Swedish horses.. Prev Vet Med 2001 May 1;49(3-4):191-208.
    doi: 10.1016/S0167-5877(01)00187-8pubmed: 11311953google scholar: lookup
  39. Käsbohrer A, Schönberg A. [Serologic studies of the occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi in domestic animals in Berlin (West)].. Berl Munch Tierarztl Wochenschr 1990 Nov 1;103(11):374-8.
    pubmed: 2268252
  40. Stefanciková A, Adaszek Ł, Pet'ko B, Winiarczyk S, Dudinák V. Serological evidence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in horses and cattle from Poland and diagnostic problems of Lyme borreliosis.. Ann Agric Environ Med 2008;15(1):37-43.
    pubmed: 18581977
  41. Stefancíková A, Derdáková M, Škardová I, Szestáková E, Cisláková L, Kovácová D, Stanko M, Petko B. Prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi in horses of east Slovakia. Vet. Med. Czech. 2000;45:227–231.
  42. Carmichael RC, Duell JR, Holbrook TC, Herrin BH, Leutenegger CM, O'Connor TP, Little SE. Antibodies reactive to Ehrlichia spp. are common in Oklahoma horses.. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2014 Aug;14(8):552-6.
    doi: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1570pubmed: 25072984google scholar: lookup
  43. Vieira RF, Vieira TS, Nascimento Ddo A, Martins TF, Krawczak FS, Labruna MB, Chandrashekar R, Marcondes M, Biondo AW, Vidotto O. Serological survey of Ehrlichia species in dogs, horses and humans: zoonotic scenery in a rural settlement from southern Brazil.. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2013 Sep-Oct;55(5):335-40.
    doi: 10.1590/S0036-46652013000500007pmc: PMC4105071pubmed: 24037288google scholar: lookup
  44. Vieira TSWJ, Qurollo BA, Mongruel ACB, Baggio RA, Vidotto O, Breitschwerdt EB, Vieira RFC. Potentially Same Novel Ehrlichia Species in Horses in Nicaragua and Brazil.. Emerg Infect Dis 2018 May;24(5):953.
    doi: 10.3201/eid2405.172076pmc: PMC5938758pubmed: 29664717google scholar: lookup
  45. Ionita M, Silaghi C, Mitrea IL, Edouard S, Parola P, Pfister K. Molecular detection of Rickettsia conorii and other zoonotic spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks, Romania.. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2016 Feb;7(1):150-153.
    doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2015.10.006pubmed: 26507182google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Allievi C, De Maria C, Persichetti MF, Caracappa G, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Infections in Horses from Northern Italy. Animals (Basel) 2022 Apr 12;12(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12080999pubmed: 35454246google scholar: lookup
  2. Kalmár Z, Briciu V, Coroian M, Flonta M, Rădulescu AL, Topan A, Mihalca AD, Lupșe M. Seroprevalence of antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in healthy blood donors in Romania: an update. Parasit Vectors 2021 Dec 4;14(1):596.
    doi: 10.1186/s13071-021-05099-1pubmed: 34863277google scholar: lookup
  3. Cheran CA, Iacob DG, Neagu G, Panciu AM, Hristea A. Seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum Antibodies Following Tick Bites: A Serosurvey in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Romania. Microorganisms 2025 Jul 28;13(8).
    doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13081758pubmed: 40871261google scholar: lookup
  4. Bogdan AM, Mitrea IL, Ionita M. Equine Granulocytic Anaplasmosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Clinico-Pathological Findings, Diagnosis, and Therapeutic Management. Vet Sci 2024 Jun 13;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci11060269pubmed: 38922016google scholar: lookup
  5. Athanasiou LV, Katsogiannou EG, Tyrnenopoulou P, Gougoulis D, Apostolidis KN, Papadakis SM, Kokkinaki KCG, Papatsiros VG, Tsokana CN. Evidence of Horse Exposure to Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi, and Leishmania infantum in Greece through the Detection of IgG Antibodies in Serum and in an Alternative Diagnostic Sample-The Saliva. Biomolecules 2023 Sep 11;13(9).
    doi: 10.3390/biom13091374pubmed: 37759774google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,105 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.