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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Survey of Zoonotic and Non-zoonotic Vector-Borne Pathogens i...
Frontiers in veterinary science2020; 7; 591943; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.591943

Survey of Zoonotic and Non-zoonotic Vector-Borne Pathogens in Military Horses in Lisbon, Portugal.

Abstract: Vector-borne diseases of zoonotic and/or veterinary relevance have been increasingly reported in horses globally, although data regarding working and military horses is lacking. Portuguese military horses may constitute a risk group for these pathogens, as they frequently work outdoors in various regions of the country. This study included 101 apparently healthy horses belonging to the Portuguese National Republican Guard. Blood samples were analyzed to determine the presence and prevalence of piroplasms, Anaplasmataceae, Rickettsia spp., and filarioid helminths. Overall 32.7% of the horses gave positive results for Theileria equi. Two genotypes of T. equi were verified. No positive results were recorded for Anaplasma spp., Rickettsia spp., filarioid helminthes, and Babesia caballi. As equine piroplasmosis is a severe infectious tick-borne disease responsible for significant losses in equine production and with numerous impacts in the international movement of horses, adequate treatment, and preventive measures are needed to reduce exposure to vectors and future infections.
Copyright © 2020 Fuehrer, Alho, Kayikci, Shahi Barogh, Rosa, Tomás, Rocha, Harl and Madeira de Carvalho.
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Publication Date: 2020-10-15 PubMed ID: 33195629PubMed Central: PMC7593411DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.591943Google 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.

The research article investigates the presence of vector-borne diseases in military horses from Portugal’s National Republican Guard. The study discovered a significant percentage of the horses were carriers of piroplasms, a type of parasite, and signals the need for better preventative measures against such infections.

Introduction and Study Purpose

  • The paper begins by acknowledging that while there has been an increase in the reported cases of vector-borne diseases (those transmitted by parasites like ticks and mosquitoes) in horses worldwide, there isn’t enough data concerning working and military horses.
  • The spotlight is put on Portuguese military horses, often working in various outdoor regions, as potential risk carriers for these diseases.

Methodology and Findings

  • This study examined 101 seemingly healthy horses from the Portuguese National Republican Guard.
  • Blood samples from these horses were analyzed, searching for the presence of different pathogens (organisms that can cause disease) such as piroplasms, Leishmania spp., and filarioid helminths (a type of roundworm).
  • The results revealed that 32.7% of the horses were carriers of piroplasms. Moreover, two genotypes of Anaplasma phagocytophilum, another type of parasite, were identified in the tested samples.
  • No positive results were found for Leishmania spp., filarioid helminths, and Neospora spp., other known disease-causing organisms.

Conclusions and Future Implications

  • The research concludes by emphasizing equine piroplasmosis, a severe tick-borne disease found in the study that significantly affects horse production and their international movement.
  • The findings point to a need for proper treatment and prevention strategies aimed at reducing the horses’ exposure to vectors (organisms transmitting diseases) and future infections.

Cite This Article

APA
Fuehrer HP, Alho AM, Kayikci FN, Shahi Barogh B, Rosa H, Tomás J, Rocha H, Harl J, Madeira de Carvalho L. (2020). Survey of Zoonotic and Non-zoonotic Vector-Borne Pathogens in Military Horses in Lisbon, Portugal. Front Vet Sci, 7, 591943. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.591943

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 7
Pages: 591943

Researcher Affiliations

Fuehrer, Hans-Peter
  • Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Alho, Ana Margarida
  • CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.
Kayikci, Feodora Natalie
  • Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Shahi Barogh, Bita
  • Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Parasitology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Rosa, Hugo
  • Guarda Nacional Republicana, Lisbon, Portugal.
Tomás, José
  • Guarda Nacional Republicana, Lisbon, Portugal.
Rocha, Hugo
  • Guarda Nacional Republicana, Lisbon, Portugal.
Harl, Josef
  • Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Madeira de Carvalho, Luís
  • CIISA - Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar em Sanidade Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Faghihzadeh Gorji F, Sadr S, Eshrati H, Borji H. An investigation of the prevalence of equine filariosis in North and Northeast of Iran. J Parasit Dis 2024 Mar;48(1):163-167.
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  2. Bonilla-Aldana DK, Castaño-Betancourt KJ, Ortega-Martínez JM, Ulloque-Badaracco JR, Hernandez-Bustamante EA, Benites-Zapata VA, Rodriguez-Morales AJ. Prevalence of zoonotic and non-zoonotic Rickettsia in horses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. New Microbes New Infect 2023 Jan;51:101068.
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