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Ticks and tick-borne diseases2011; 2(2); 111-115; doi: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.01.002

Seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses in the Czech Republic.

Abstract: Anaplasma phagocytophilum is the aetiological agent of equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA). The aim of this survey was to assess the prevalence of anti-A. phagocytophilum antibodies in the horse population of the Czech Republic (CZ) and to investigate possible links between seropositivity and the geographic origin, age, and/or sex of the tested horses. Antibodies against A. phagocytophilum were screened using an indirect fluorescent antibody method (IFA). Serum samples from 96 healthy horses from 8 localities (7 within the CZ and one control upland/tick-free locality in Ukraine) were examined. While the controls tested negative, the seroprevalence in the Czech localities was estimated at 73%, which suggests that subclinical EGA is common among horses in the CZ. Significant differences between seropositivity rates in individual stables were demonstrated (explicable by the different environment and/or management styles of the horses stabled therein). Horses in stables from which previous manifest cases had been reported tended to have higher average titres. Mares displayed a somewhat higher seropositivity rate than did stallions; age had no demonstrable effect upon the serological status of the examined horses.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2011-04-01 PubMed ID: 21771545DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.01.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 is about the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the pathogen causing equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA), in horses in the Czech Republic. The study also looked into any relationships between presence of antibodies to the pathogen and factors such as geographic location, age, and sex of the horses.

Introduction

  • The research focused on the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which causes a disease in horses known as equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (EGA).
  • The study aimed to understand how widespread this bacterium was in the horse population in the Czech Republic, and also if the rate of infection was influenced by the location, age, or sex of the horses.

Methods

  • An indirect fluorescent antibody method (IFA) was used to identify antibodies against A. phagocytophilum in serum samples of the horses, which signals if the animal has been exposed to the pathogen.
  • 96 healthy horses from eight different locations were tested. One of these locations was in Ukraine, which was tick-free and served as the control location.

Findings

  • Horses in the control location of Ukraine tested negative for the presence of antibodies, confirming the effectiveness of the method in identifying the disease in tick-infested environments.
  • In the Czech Republic, 73% of the horses were found to have the antibodies, meaning that a subclinical form of EGA is common amongst horses in this region.
  • There were significant variations in rates of infection between individual stables, possibly due to different environments or management practices in these locations.
  • Horses in stables where previous cases of the disease had been reported were found to have higher numbers of antibodies.

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that Mare horses had a somewhat higher rate of infection than stallions, but age was not a significant factor in the spread of the disease.
  • The high prevalence of the bacterium in the horse population in the Czech Republic calls for improved diagnostic and prevention methods to protect the animal population.

Cite This Article

APA
Praskova I, Bezdekova B, Zeman P, Jahn P. (2011). Seroprevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in horses in the Czech Republic. Ticks Tick Borne Dis, 2(2), 111-115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ttbdis.2011.01.002

Publication

Ticks and tick-borne diseases
ISSN: 1877-9603
NlmUniqueID: 101522599
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 2
Issue: 2
Pages: 111-115

Researcher Affiliations

Praskova, Ivana
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
Bezdekova, Barbora
    Zeman, Petr
      Jahn, Petr

        MeSH Terms

        • Anaplasma phagocytophilum / immunology
        • Animals
        • Czech Republic / epidemiology
        • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horses / immunology
        • Horses / microbiology
        • Seroepidemiologic Studies

        Citations

        This article has been cited 8 times.
        1. Hacilarlioglu S, Bilgic HB, Karagenc T, Aydin HB, Toker H, Kanlioglu H, Pekagirbas M, Bakirci S. Molecular Detection and Prevalence of Equine Piroplasmosis and Other Blood Parasites in Equids of Western Aegean Türkiye. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 27;12(9).
          doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090826pubmed: 41012752google scholar: lookup
        2. Lesiczka PM, Myśliwy I, Buńkowska-Gawlik K, Modrý D, Hrazdilová K, Hildebrand J, Perec-Matysiak A. Circulation of Anaplasma phagocytophilum among invasive and native carnivore species living in sympatry in Poland. Parasit Vectors 2023 Oct 18;16(1):368.
          doi: 10.1186/s13071-023-05996-7pubmed: 37853498google scholar: lookup
        3. 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
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          doi: 10.3390/ani13121984pubmed: 37370494google scholar: lookup
        5. 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
        6. Rubel W, Schoneberg C, Wolf A, Ganter M, Bauer BU. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Anaplasma spp. in German Small Ruminant Flocks. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 25;11(10).
          doi: 10.3390/ani11102793pubmed: 34679815google scholar: lookup
        7. Springer A, Glass A, Topp AK, Strube C. Zoonotic Tick-Borne Pathogens in Temperate and Cold Regions of Europe-A Review on the Prevalence in Domestic Animals. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:604910.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.604910pubmed: 33363242google scholar: lookup
        8. Yoo J, Chung JH, Kim CM, Yun NR, Kim DM. Asymptomatic-anaplasmosis confirmation using genetic and serological tests and possible coinfection with spotted fever group Rickettsia: a case report. BMC Infect Dis 2020 Jun 30;20(1):458.
          doi: 10.1186/s12879-020-05170-9pubmed: 32605544google scholar: lookup
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