Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in the Czech Republic.

This research investigates the occurrence of two protozoan infections, Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, in horses within the Czech Republic. The study found antibodies for these parasites in a small percentage of the horse population, highlighting a potential risk for the establishment of active equine piroplasmosis in the region due to increased horse movement and the presence of competent tick vectors.

Research Context and Objectives

• The target of the research was to screen for the presence of antibodies against protozoan agents, Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, in horses in the Czech Republic. Both organisms cause equine piroplasmosis, an infectious disease endemic in many countries.
• Further, the study was interested in investigating the source of these infections.

Research Methodology

• The research team used a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) to test serum samples from 711 horses for antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi.
• Samples showing a positive result were further tested with an indirect fluorescence immunoassay (IFAT) to confirm the presence of antibodies against these organisms.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were conducted on blood samples from five serologically positive horses to confirm infection with T. equi.

Research Findings

• Of the screened horse population, 1.1% horses were found to have antibodies to T. equi and 0.4% to B. caballi respectively.
• PCR and sequencing confirmed the presence of T. equi infection in five serologically positive horses.
• An autochthonous, or local, origin of T. equi infection could not be ruled out in two of the horses.

Conclusion and Implication

• The discovery of antibodies against T. equi and B. caballi signals the presence of these infections among horses in the Czech Republic.
• The study suggests that the extensive movement of horses across European countries, together with the expanding distribution of the Dermacentor reticulatus tick (a known vector for these diseases), may increase the risk of localized outbreaks of equine piroplasmosis in the Czech Republic.