Seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in horses: first report from Northern Bulgaria – Short communication.
Abstract: Lyme borreliosis, granulocytic anaplasmosis and monocytic ehrlichiosis are well studied in humans and dogs. In horses, these diseases are not widely investigated and limited information is available about their occurrence. The purpose of this study was to present the first ELISA-based report on the seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi in horses from Northern Bulgaria. A total of 192 horses were investigated from three regions in Northern Bulgaria (Northwestern, North-Central and Northeastern Bulgaria). All equine sera were tested for A. phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and B. burgdorferi antibodies by a commercial rapid ELISA test. Antibodies against A. phagocytophilum were found in all the three regions at a mean frequency of 12% (23/192), ranging from 9.38 to 15.63% by region. Antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. were found in horses from one region (Northeastern) at a rate of 0.5% (1/192). Anti-B. burgdorferi antibodies were detected in all the three regions with a mean frequency of 15.1% (29/192), ranging from 14.06 to 17.19% by region. A co-exposure to A. phagocytophilum and B. burgdorferi was observed in 6.3% of the cases (12/192). This is the first report on the natural exposure of horses to these bacteria (A. phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and B. burgdorferi) in Northern Bulgaria.
Publication Date: 2019-06-27 PubMed ID: 31238733DOI: 10.1556/004.2019.021Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research study investigates the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in horses from Northern Bulgaria. It is the first study of this kind in the region and uses ELISA tests to determine the frequency of exposures to these bacteria among the equine population.
Research Objectives and Methodology
- The purpose of this study was to assess the seroprevalence, or the level of a pathogen in a population as measured in blood serum, of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in horses from three regions in Northern Bulgaria (Northwestern, North-Central and Northeastern Bulgaria).
- A total of 192 horses were involved in this investigation. The researchers used an ELISA test, a rapid test that detects and measures antibodies in your blood, to test the equine sera for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies.
Findings
- Antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi were found in all three regions at a mean frequency of 12% (23/192), with a range from 9.38% to 15.63% based on region.
- Antibodies against Ehrlichia spp. were found in horses from only one region (Northeastern), at a rate of 0.5% (1/192).
- Antibodies against Anaplasma phagocytophilum were detected across all three regions, with a mean frequency of 15.1% (29/192), showing a range from 14.06% to 17.19% based on region.
- Researchers observed a co-exposure to Borrelia burgdorferi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in 6.3% of the cases (12/192).
Significance of the Study
- The study stands as the first report on the occurrence of these bacterial infections in horses in Northern Bulgaria, rendering it of significant value for equine health management in the region.
- The data gathered from the study can serve as a baseline for future studies, conservation efforts, and public health strategies.
- Understanding the prevalence of these diseases in horses may also help to understand the transmission dynamics, including potential zoonotic risks, as these pathogens are also known to affect humans and dogs.
Cite This Article
APA
Tsachev I, Baymakova M, Pantchev N.
(2019).
Seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia spp. and Borrelia burgdorferi infections in horses: first report from Northern Bulgaria – Short communication.
Acta Vet Hung, 67(2), 197-203.
https://doi.org/10.1556/004.2019.021 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University , Stara Zagora , Bulgaria.
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Military Medical Academy , 1606 Sofia , Bulgaria.
- Department of Infectious Diseases, IDEXX Laboratories , Ludwigsburg , Germany.
MeSH Terms
- Anaplasma phagocytophilum / isolation & purification
- Anaplasmosis / epidemiology
- Anaplasmosis / microbiology
- Animals
- Borrelia burgdorferi / isolation & purification
- Bulgaria / epidemiology
- Ehrlichia / isolation & purification
- Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
- Ehrlichiosis / microbiology
- Ehrlichiosis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / microbiology
- Horses
- Lyme Disease / epidemiology
- Lyme Disease / microbiology
- Lyme Disease / veterinary
- Male
- Prevalence
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Gospodinova K, Petrov V, Stanilov I, Miteva L, Tsachev I, Baymakova M. First molecular evidence of Anaplasma platys infection in a dog (Labrador retriever) from Bulgaria. Open Vet J 2024 Dec;14(12):3656-3664.
- Ngoc K, Trifonova I, Gladnishka T, Taseva E, Panayotova E, Vladimirova I, Ivanova V, Kuteva E, Christova I. Serological Assessment of Lyme borreliosis in Bulgaria: A Nationwide Study. Pathogens 2024 Sep 2;13(9).
- 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).
- Gehlen H, Inerle K, Bartel A, Stöckle SD, Ulrich S, Briese B, Straubinger RK. Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato and Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infections in German Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 14;13(12).
- Karageorgou I, Koutantou M, Papadogiannaki I, Voulgari-Kokota A, Makka S, Angelakis E. Serological evidence of possible Borrelia afzelii lyme disease in Greece. New Microbes New Infect 2022 Mar;46:100978.
- 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).
- Bogdan AM, Ionita M, Mitrea IL. Serological Evidence of Natural Exposure to Tick-Borne Pathogens in Horses, Romania. Microorganisms 2021 Feb 12;9(2).
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