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Home / Equine Research Bank / Open Vet J / Serosurveillance of infectious agents in equines of the Cent...
Open veterinary journal2014; 4(2); 107-112;

Serosurveillance of infectious agents in equines of the Central Valley of Costa Rica.

Abstract: Blood samples from 181 equines from the Central Valley of Costa Rica were collected in the year 2012 to determine the presence of antibodies against selected infectious agents in horses and to determine the risk factors associated with these agents. The presence of antibodies against Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV), Equine Herpes Virus 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4), West Nile Virus (WNV), Influenza A Virus (IAV), Equine Viral Arteritis Virus (EVAV), Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, Neospora caninum and Chlamydia abortus was determined using commercial assays, and risk factors associated with seropositivity to the different infectious agents was established. The most seroprevalent agent detected was EHV-4 (96.7%), followed by WNV (44.2%), and IAV (41.8%). Horses >3 years, used for work or sports, and with access to pastures, had significantly increased probability to be seropositive to WNV, whereas horses used for breeding and recreational purposes, being stabled, and without access to pastures, had significantly greater probability to be seropositive to IAV. Seroprevalence to B. caballi (19.9%) was lower than to T. equi (38.1%). For B. caballi, access to pastures was determined as a risk factor, whereas being older than 3 years was established as a risk factor for T. equi. Low seroprevalences were determined for EHV-1 (5.0%), EVAV (5.0%), C. abortus (4.8%), and N. caninum (4.4%). Mares having history of abortion were more likely to be seropositive to EHV-1, whereas horses >3 years, used for work and sports, and mares having multiple parturitions, were more likely to be seropositive to N. caninum. None of the horses were seropositive to EIAV. Earlier, only diseases caused by EIAV, WNV and piroplasmosis were reported in Costa Rica. The present study however, determined the presence of carriers for EHV-1, EHV-4, and EIAV.
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Publication Date: 2014-11-16 PubMed ID: 26623349PubMed Central: PMC4629603
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The study investigates the presence of antibodies against selected infectious agents in horses from the Central Valley of Costa Rica and identifies associated risk factors. It found that the three most common agents were Equine Herpes Virus 4, West Nile Virus, and Influenza A Virus, and that certain lifestyle factors increased the likelihood of horses carrying these agents.

Methodology

  • The study involved the collection of blood samples from 181 horses in the Central Valley of Costa Rica during 2012.
  • The researchers used commercial assays (tests) to investigate the presence of antibodies, which are substances produced by the body in response to an infection.
  • The infectious agents tested for included Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV), Equine Herpes Virus 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4), West Nile Virus (WNV), Influenza A Virus (IAV), Equine Viral Arteritis Virus (EVAV), Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, Neospora caninum, and Chlamydia abortus.

Results and Analysis

  • The most prevalent infectious agent detected was EHV-4 (96.7% of the horses had antibodies indicating past or present infection), followed by WNV (44.2%), and IAV (41.8%).
  • The researchers also identified several risk factors associated with seropositivity (the presence of detectable antibodies against a specific infectious agent) to these various agents.
  • For example, horses that were more than three years old, used for work or sports, and had access to pastures were more likely to test positive for WNV antibodies. On the other hand, horses used for breeding and recreational purposes, being stabled, and without access to pastures had a significantly greater likelihood of having antibodies to IAV.
  • Additionally, 19.9% of horses tested positive for antibodies to B. caballi while 38.1% tested positive for antibodies to T. equi. For B. caballi, access to pastures was determined as a risk factor and for T. equi, age older than 3 years was established as a risk factor.

Conclusions

  • Previously, only diseases caused by EIAV, WNV, and piroplasmosis were reported in horses in Costa Rica. However, this study found evidence of carriers for EHV-1, EHV-4, and EIAV, expanding the known range of equine diseases in the region.
  • The findings of this study may have significant implications for horse care and disease prevention strategies in Costa Rica and potentially other similar regions.

Cite This Article

APA
Jiménez D, Romero-Zuñiga JJ, Dolz G. (2014). Serosurveillance of infectious agents in equines of the Central Valley of Costa Rica. Open Vet J, 4(2), 107-112.

Publication

Open veterinary journal
ISSN: 2226-4485
NlmUniqueID: 101653182
Country: Libya
Language: English
Volume: 4
Issue: 2
Pages: 107-112

Researcher Affiliations

Jiménez, D
  • Programa de Investigación en Medicina Poblacional, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica.
Romero-Zuñiga, J J
  • Programa de Investigación en Medicina Poblacional, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica.
Dolz, G
  • Programa de Investigación en Medicina Poblacional, Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional, P.O. Box 86-3000, Heredia, Costa Rica.

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Bhat S, Karunakaran S, Frossard JP, Choudhury B, Steinbach F. Genetic characterization of equine arteritis virus associated with outbreaks in the UK, 2019. J Gen Virol 2025 Dec;106(12).
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  2. Gonzalez-Obando J, Jaimes-Dueñez J, Zuluaga-Cabrera A, Forero JE, Diaz A, Rojas-Arbeláez C, Ruiz-Saenz J. Seroprevalence of Equine Influenza Virus Antibodies in Horses from Four Localities in Colombia. Viruses 2025 Jul 16;17(7).
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  3. Turin L, Surini S, Wheelhouse N, Rocchi MS. Recent advances and public health implications for environmental exposure to Chlamydia abortus: from enzootic to zoonotic disease. Vet Res 2022 May 31;53(1):37.
    doi: 10.1186/s13567-022-01052-xpubmed: 35642008google scholar: lookup
  4. Posada-Guzmán MF, Dolz G, Romero-Zúñiga JJ, Jiménez-Rocha AE. Detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Blood from Equines from Four Indigenous Communities in Costa Rica. Vet Med Int 2015;2015:236278.
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