Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in the Swiss horse population.
Abstract: In Switzerland, the prevalence and incidence of equine piroplasma parasite (EPP) infections are unknown. In order to obtain a first insight into the prevalence, a representative sample of 689 sera of horses from Switzerland was serologically tested for the presence of antibodies directed against T. equi and B. caballi using the Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). A total of 50 (7.3%) horses were seropositive for EPP: overall, the seroprevalence of T. equi was significantly higher than that of B. caballi (p=0.002). The seropositivities in indigenous horses (animals bred and raised in Switzerland) and in imported horses were 4.8% (11/230) and 8.5% (39/459), respectively. Unlike in indigenous horses, where no significant difference in seroprevalences could be observed between the two parasite species, the seroprevalence of T. equi was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that of B. caballi in imported horses. Horses imported from France, Spain and Portugal exhibited a significantly higher seroprevalence, and horses imported from Germany a significantly lower seroprevalence of EPP compared to indigenous horses. There were no associations between sex, age, weight loss, surgery or blood transfusions with T. equi and B. caballi seroprevalences. The overall seroprevalence of 7.3% clearly shows that infection with EPP is a threat to the health of the horses in Switzerland. With the presumed expansion of permissive tick vectors, EPP infections will potentially increase in importance in the future. Therefore, continuous monitoring is mandatory.
Publication Date: 2010-02-21 PubMed ID: 20178863DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.02.005Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research article investigates the prevalence of equine piroplasma parasite (EPP) infections, specifically Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, within the horse population in Switzerland. The study identified that while infection rates were overall low, there were significant variations in infection rates between indigenous and imported horses, likely reflective of differing regional exposure and management practices.
Research Objective and Method
- The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence of equine piroplasma parasite (EPP) infections, specifically Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, within the Swiss horse population.
- The researchers serologically tested a representative sample of 689 horse sera for the presence of antibodies against T. equi and B. caballi.
- The indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) was used to detect these antibodies.
Key Findings
- In total, 7.3% of the horses tested were found to be seropositive for EPP.
- The seroprevalence of T. equi was significantly higher than that of B. caballi.
- Among the indigenous horses, 4.8% were seropositive.
- Among the imported horses, 8.5% were seropositive.
- There was a significant difference, specifically for T. equi, between the seroprevalences in the indigenous and imported horses. Imported horses had a higher seroprevalence of T. equi than indigenous horses.
- There was a region-specific difference as horses imported from France, Spain and Portugal exhibited a significantly higher seroprevalence compared to indigenous horses, while horses imported from Germany had a lower seroprevalence.
Implications
- The overall seroprevalence of EPP infection of 7.3% suggests that EPP poses a health threat to the horse population in Switzerland.
- No associations were found between EPP seroprevalence and factors such as sex, age, weight loss, surgery or blood transfusions.
- In light of potential expansion of permissive tick vectors, the researchers recommend continuous monitoring of EPP infections.
Cite This Article
APA
Sigg L, Gerber V, Gottstein B, Doherr MG, Frey CF.
(2010).
Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in the Swiss horse population.
Parasitol Int, 59(3), 313-317.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parint.2010.02.005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Clinic, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Berne, Bern, Switzerland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
- Babesia / classification
- Babesia / immunology
- Babesiosis / epidemiology
- Babesiosis / immunology
- Babesiosis / parasitology
- Babesiosis / veterinary
- Female
- Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horse Diseases / parasitology
- Horses
- Male
- Prevalence
- Seroepidemiologic Studies
- Switzerland / epidemiology
- Theileria / classification
- Theileria / immunology
- Theileriasis / epidemiology
- Theileriasis / immunology
- Theileriasis / parasitology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Graham H, van Kalsbeek P, van der Goot J, Koene MGJ. Low seroprevalence of equine piroplasmosis in horses exported from the Netherlands between 2015 and 2021.. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:954046.
- Giubega S, Ilie MS, Luca I, Florea T, Dreghiciu C, Oprescu I, Morariu S, Dărăbuș G. Seroprevalence of Anti-Theileria equi Antibodies in Horses from Three Geographically Distinct Areas of Romania.. Pathogens 2022 Jun 9;11(6).
- Bajer A, Beck A, Beck R, Behnke JM, Dwużnik-Szarek D, Eichenberger RM, Farkas R, Fuehrer HP, Heddergott M, Jokelainen P, Leschnik M, Oborina V, Paulauskas A, Radzijevskaja J, Ranka R, Schnyder M, Springer A, Strube C, Tolkacz K, Walochnik J. Babesiosis in Southeastern, Central and Northeastern Europe: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Tick-Borne Disease of Humans and Animals.. Microorganisms 2022 Apr 30;10(5).
- Bravo-Barriga D, Serrano-Aguilera FJ, Barrasa-Rita R, Habela MÁ, Chacón RB, Ezquerra LJ, Martín-Cuervo M. Effects of Competitive ELISA-Positive Results of Piroplasmosis on the Performance of Endurance Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 3;12(5).
- 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).
- 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.
- Onyiche TE, Suganuma K, Igarashi I, Yokoyama N, Xuan X, Thekisoe O. A Review on Equine Piroplasmosis: Epidemiology, Vector Ecology, Risk Factors, Host Immunity, Diagnosis and Control.. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019 May 16;16(10).
- Montes Cortés MG, Fernández-García JL, Habela Martínez-Estéllez MÁ. Seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in Spain.. Parasite 2017;24:14.
- Guidi E, Pradier S, Lebert I, Leblond A. Piroplasmosis in an endemic area: analysis of the risk factors and their implications in the control of Theileriosis and Babesiosis in horses.. Parasitol Res 2015 Jan;114(1):71-83.
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