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Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in five draught equine populated metropolises of Punjab, Pakistan.
Abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) caused by intraerythrocytic parasites (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) is an emerging equine disease of world-wide distribution. In Pakistan, the prevalence and incidence of EP are unknown. In order to obtain the first insights into the prevalence of the disease, a total of 430 equids, including 33 mules, 65 horses and 332 donkeys, aging from ≤ 5 to ≥ 10 years of either sex, from five metropolises of Punjab, Pakistan, were serologically tested for the presence of antibodies directed against B. caballi and T. equi, using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Out of 430 equid serum samples tested, 226 (52.6%, 95% CI 47.7-57.4) were found cELISA positive for EP (T. equi and/or B. caballi infections). The overall seroprevalence of EP was 41.2% (95% CI 36.5-46.0) for T. equi and 21.6% (95% CI 17.8-25.8) for B. caballi. A small proportion of equids (10.2%, 95% CI 7.5-13.5) was seropositive for both T. equi and B. caballi. Seroprevalence of T. equi was significantly higher (P<0.01) in equines from the metropolis of Lahore (66.7%, 95% CI 54.3-77.6) and in horses (56.9%, 95% CI 44.0-69.2). Multivariable logistic regression model analysis indicated that factors associated with prevalence of EP were being an equine species kept in metropolis Lahore (OR=4.24, 95% CI 2.28-7.90), horse (OR=2.82, 95% CI 1.53-5.20) and male equids (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.15-2.86).
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2014-02-06 PubMed ID: 24582524DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.01.026Google 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
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This research explores the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis, a disease caused by parasites and affecting donkeys, horses, and mules, in five major cities in Punjab, Pakistan. The study shows that more than half of the total animals examined were infected, with the disease especially common in Lahore and among horses and male equids.
Research Context and Methodology
- The focus of the study is equine piroplasmosis (EP), an emerging global disease affecting equines (horses, donkeys, and mules), and caused by the parasites Theileria equi and Babesia caballi.
- Given the lack of data on the prevalence of EP in Pakistan, the researchers carried out a serological (antibody) test using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) on 430 equids from five major cities in the region of Punjab.
- The tested subjects ranged from ≤ 5 to ≥ 10 years of age and included both genders.
Findings
- Out of the 430 tested serum samples, 226 (52.6%) tested positive for EP (infected by T. equi and/or B. caballi).
- The overall seroprevalence of EP was found to be 41.2% for T. equi and 21.6% for B. caballi.
- A smaller number, 10.2%, was found to be seropositive for both parasites.
- Seroprevalence of T. equi was significantly higher in Lahore (66.7%), and among horses (56.9%).
Associated Factors
- A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors that were associated with the prevalence of the disease.
- The results suggested a high likelihood of EP infection among equines kept in Lahore (with an odds ratio [OR] of 4.24), among horses (OR=2.82), and among male equids (OR=1.81).
Conclusion
- The study provides valuable initial insights into the prevalence of equine piroplasmosis in the Punjab region of Pakistan.
- It highlights the need for further research and effective prevention strategies, given the high infection rates especially among certain populations (horses and equines in Lahore).
Cite This Article
APA
Hussain MH, Saqib M, Raza F, Muhammad G, Asi MN, Mansoor MK, Saleem M, Jabbar A.
(2014).
Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in five draught equine populated metropolises of Punjab, Pakistan.
Vet Parasitol, 202(3-4), 248-256.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2014.01.026 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: m.hammad.hussain@gmail.com.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- The Brooke Hospital for Animals, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Babesia
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- Babesiosis / veterinary
- Equidae / parasitology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Logistic Models
- Male
- Pakistan / epidemiology
- Risk Factors
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Theileria
- Theileriasis / epidemiology
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Azhar M, Gadahi JA, Bhutto B, Tunio S, Vistro WA, Tunio H, Bhutto S, Ram T. Babesiosis: Current status and future perspectives in Pakistan and chemotherapy used in livestock and pet animals. Heliyon 2023 Jun;9(6):e17172.
- Naveed M, Ijaz M, Ahmed A, Ghumman NZ, Ishaq M, Muzammil I, Javed MU. Molecular evidence, risk factors analysis, and hematological alterations associated with Theileria spp. spillover in captive wild mouflon sheep in Punjab, Pakistan. Iran J Vet Res 2022;23(4):349-357.
- Torres R, Hurtado C, Pérez-Macchi S, Bittencourt P, Freschi C, de Mello VVC, Machado RZ, André MR, Müller A. Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Chilean Thoroughbred Racing Horses. Pathogens 2021 Jun 7;10(6).
- Tirosh-Levy S, Gottlieb Y, Fry LM, Knowles DP, Steinman A. Twenty Years of Equine Piroplasmosis Research: Global Distribution, Molecular Diagnosis, and Phylogeny. Pathogens 2020 Nov 8;9(11).
- Zhao S, Wang H, Zhang S, Xie S, Li H, Zhang X, Jia L. First report of genetic diversity and risk factor analysis of equine piroplasm infection in equids in Jilin, China. Parasit Vectors 2020 Sep 9;13(1):459.
- Onyiche TE, Taioe MO, Molefe NI, Biu AA, Luka J, Omeh IJ, Yokoyama N, Thekisoe O. Equine piroplasmosis: an insight into global exposure of equids from 1990 to 2019 by systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasitology 2020 Nov;147(13):1411-1424.
- Afridi MJK, Mian AH, Saqib M, Abbas G, Ali J, Mansoor MK, Sial AUR, Rasheed I, Hussain MH. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Theileria equi Infection in Equines from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Iran J Parasitol 2017 Oct-Dec;12(4):597-605.
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- Gupta KK, Gupta N, Kumar S, Srivastava M, Kumar P. Equine piroplasmosis: an emerging tick-borne threat to equine health. Trop Anim Health Prod 2026 Jan 5;58(1):29.
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