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Journal of veterinary research2020; 64(3); 413-419; doi: 10.2478/jvetres-2020-0045

Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Anaplasma Phagocytophilum and Borrelia Burgdorferi in Horses (Equus Caballus) from Northern Algeria.

Abstract: Horses (Equus caballus) are susceptible to tick-borne diseases. Two of them, Lyme borreliosis due to Borrelia burgdorferi and granulocytic anaplasmosis due to Anaplasma phagocytophilum were investigated in Algerian horses. The diseases have been less extensively studied in horses and results pertinent to Algeria have not been published. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from 128 horses. IgG antibodies directed against Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi were detected by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and ELISA. The potential effects of age, gender, breed, and health status on seropositivity were also evaluated. Results: Using IFAT, 28 (21.8%) and 25 (19.5%) animals were positive for B. burgdorferi and A. phagocytophilum, respectively. Using ELISA, 19 (14.8%) and 33 (25.9%) animals were positive for these bacteria. Conclusions: The study shows that horses in Algeria are exposed or co-exposed to tick-transmitted zoonotic bacterial species.
© 2020 A. Laamari et al. published by Sciendo.
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Publication Date: 2020-07-14 PubMed ID: 32984632PubMed Central: PMC7497754DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2020-0045Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This study involves researching the presence of diseases in horses in North Algeria, specifically those caused by the parasites Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi, which are predominantly transmitted by ticks. The study found a significant number of horses had been exposed to these parasites, indicating a possible health risk for the animals.

Objectives and Methodology

The primary aim of this epidemiological study was to monitor the seroprevalence, or the level of a pathogen in a population as measured in blood serum, of two specific diseases in horses in North Algeria. The diseases in question are Lyme borreliosis, caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacterium and granulocytic anaplasmosis, attributable to the Anaplasma phagocytophilum bacterium.

  • The research team took blood samples from 128 horses for this study.
  • The methods utilized to identify the presence of the relevant antibodies against the bacteria included the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and the ELISA test, both widely used in seroprevalence studies.
  • The team also evaluated whether extrinsic factors such as age, breed, gender, and overall health status could influence seropositivity, the condition of having a detectable level of antibodies in the blood serum.

Results and Conclusions

The results established noteworthy exposure among horses to the above-mentioned infections, suggesting vulnerability to tick-borne diseases.

  • Based on IFAT, Borrelia burgdorferi was found in 21.8% of the horses sampled while Anaplasma phagocytophilum affected 19.5%.
  • ELISA test results indicated 14.8% horses were affected by Borrelia burgdorferi and 25.9% by Anaplasma phagocytophilum.
  • The study indicates that horses in Algeria are at risk of exposure or co-exposure to tick-transmitted bacterial species, with important health implications for these animals. This prevalence also suggests possible zoonotic transmission, as these diseases could potentially spread to humans through tick bites.

Cite This Article

APA
Laamari A, Azzag N, Tennah S, Derdour SY, China B, Boꯚllah R, Ghalmi F. (2020). Seroprevalence of Antibodies Against Anaplasma Phagocytophilum and Borrelia Burgdorferi in Horses (Equus Caballus) from Northern Algeria. J Vet Res, 64(3), 413-419. https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2020-0045

Publication

Journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 2450-7393
NlmUniqueID: 101696630
Country: Poland
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 3
Pages: 413-419

Researcher Affiliations

Laamari, Abdelouahab
  • Research Laboratory Management of Local Animal Resources, Higher National Veterinary School, El Alia, Oued Smar, 1615 Algiers, Algeria.
Azzag, Naouelle
  • Research Laboratory Management of Local Animal Resources, Higher National Veterinary School, El Alia, Oued Smar, 1615 Algiers, Algeria.
Tennah, Safia
  • Research Laboratory Management of Local Animal Resources, Higher National Veterinary School, El Alia, Oued Smar, 1615 Algiers, Algeria.
Derdour, Salima-Yamina
  • Research Laboratory Management of Local Animal Resources, Higher National Veterinary School, El Alia, Oued Smar, 1615 Algiers, Algeria.
China, Bernard
  • Sciensano, Quality of Laboratories, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Boꯚllah, Ryhan
  • Research Laboratory Management of Local Animal Resources, Higher National Veterinary School, El Alia, Oued Smar, 1615 Algiers, Algeria.
Ghalmi, Farida
  • Research Laboratory Management of Local Animal Resources, Higher National Veterinary School, El Alia, Oued Smar, 1615 Algiers, Algeria.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Conflict of Interest Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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