Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in horses in Central Germany

Pikalo, Jutta; Sattler, Tatjana; Eichinger, Michaela; Loitsch, Angelika; Schmoll, F.; Schusser, G. F.

doi:10.21836/pem20160309

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Other serological studies using these two tests also showed almost perfect agreement between them (GOLYNSKI et al, 2008;SALVAGNI et al, 2010;FARKAS et al, 2013;MAHMOUD et al, 2016). However, IFA tested an increased number of 19 horses with anti-T. equi antibodies titer in comparison with ELISA which tested only 10/19 horses with anti-T. equi antibodies titer (PIKALO et al, 2016). Although equine piroplasmosis is widely distributed in Brazil, there is no report of its prevalence in the state of Pernambuco.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serological detection and risk factors for equine piroplasmosis in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

Souza

Araujo

Pires

et al. 2019

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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Equine piroplasmosis, an economically important disease in horses, has so far not been reported in Pernambuco state, Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-Babesia caballi and anti-Theileria equi antibodies based on the detection of these agents in equine blood and in ticks on horses in the municipality of Petrolina, Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil. Blood samples were drawn from 393 horses and sera were examined by ELISA. The presence of tick infestations was evaluated, and 101 ticks were subjected to DNA amplification for the detection of Babesia spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). No parasites were detected in the blood smears. Anti-B. caballi and anti-T. equi antibodies were found in 27.2% (107/393) and 34.8% (137/393) horses, respectively. Infestation by Dermacentor nitens was detected in 4.3% (17/393) of the horses. There was no DNA amplification of the agents in ticks. The risk factors for the presence of anti-T. equi antibodies (P < 0.05) were: purebred (P < 0.001), animals older than 156 months (P = 0.014), and the presence of ticks (P = 0.001). No risk factors for B. caballi were identified. This study confirmed the circulation of agents of equine piroplasmosis in the municipality of Petrolina, state of Pernambuco, Brazil.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serological detection and risk factors for equine piroplasmosis in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

Souza

Araujo

Pires

et al. 2019

Rev. Bras. Parasitol. Vet.

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“…Between 1997 and 1999, 19 of 42 B. caballi - and/or T. equi -seropositive horses that were diagnosed at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, were imported or had a travel history, whereas information was lacking for the remaining animals [ 139 ]. A more recent study detected 6.1% of T. equi - and 0.3% B. caballi -seropositive animals among 314 German horses where the travel history was not reported [ 124 ].…”

Section: Central Europementioning

confidence: 99%

Babesiosis in Southeastern, Central and Northeastern Europe: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Tick-Borne Disease of Humans and Animals

Bajer

Beck

et al. 2022

Microorganisms

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There is now considerable evidence that in Europe, babesiosis is an emerging infectious disease, with some of the causative species spreading as a consequence of the increasing range of their tick vector hosts. In this review, we summarize both the historic records and recent findings on the occurrence and incidence of babesiosis in 20 European countries located in southeastern Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia), central Europe (Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland), and northern and northeastern Europe (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Iceland, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Norway), identified in humans and selected species of domesticated animals (cats, dogs, horses, and cattle). Recorded cases of human babesiosis are still rare, but their number is expected to rise in the coming years. This is because of the widespread and longer seasonal activity of Ixodes ricinus as a result of climate change and because of the more extensive use of better molecular diagnostic methods. Bovine babesiosis has a re-emerging potential because of the likely loss of herd immunity, while canine babesiosis is rapidly expanding in central and northeastern Europe, its occurrence correlating with the rapid, successful expansion of the ornate dog tick (Dermacentor reticulatus) populations in Europe. Taken together, our analysis of the available reports shows clear evidence of an increasing annual incidence of babesiosis across Europe in both humans and animals that is changing in line with similar increases in the incidence of other tick-borne diseases. This situation is of major concern, and we recommend more extensive and frequent, standardized monitoring using a “One Health” approach.

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“…equi have been reported in horses in the Netherlands (0.0%/1.6%) [16], Poland (-/7.2%) [17], Hungary (0.0%/15.1%) [18], Romania (2.2%/20.3%) [19], the central Balkans (2.1%/22.5%) [20], Croatia (3.6%/13.2%) [21], and Italy (10.3%/70.3%) [22]. There have also been reports of seropositive horses in central Germany (0.3%/6.1%) [23], Switzerland (2.9%/5.8%) [24], the Netherlands (0.2%/0.3%) [25], the Czech Republic (0.4%/1.1%) [26], the United Kingdom (4.4%/5.9%) [27], Ireland (1.5%/2.5%) [28], Greece (1.1%/9.2%) [29], Italy (8.9%/39.8) [22], Spain (6.5%/53.7%) [30], Romania (-/12.8%) [31], and France (13.2%/9.5%) [32]. Furthermore, there have been rare reports of autochthonous infections with T. equi in two horses in the Netherlands [16], one horse in Austria [33], and in Germany for one [34] as well as three horses [33].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular and Serological Detection of Vector-Borne Pathogens Responsible for Equine Piroplasmosis in Europe between 2008 and 2021

Axt,

Springer,

Strube

et al. 2024

Microorganisms

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Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is caused by Theileria (T.) equi and/or Babesia (B.) caballi. The aim was to assess the percentage of positive test results for EP in horses in Europe and to identify risk factors for pathogen contact/infection. This study included results from PCR and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing requested by European veterinarians between 2008 and 2021. Binary bivariate logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors. A total of 4060 horses were included. PCR testing was positive in 9.7% (154/1589), serology for T. equi in 15.2% (393/2591) and for B. caballi in 6.8% (175/2578). The odds of positive serology increased by 6.8% (B. caballi, p = 0.008) and 9.5% (T. equi, p < 0.001) each year. Regionality had a statistically significant impact on PCR (Eastern p = 0.047/OR = 1.605; Southern p = 0.029/OR = 1.451; Central p = 0.007/OR = 0.617) and serological testing for T. equi (Southern p < 0.001/OR = 2.521; Central p < 0.001/OR = 0.537; Northern p = 0.003/OR = 0.462), as well as breeds on seroprevalence of B. caballi (heavy horses: p = 0.016/OR = 2.239) and T. equi (ponies: p = 0.007/OR = 0.340; warmbloods: p = 0.025/OR = 1.602). In conclusion, there was a significant geographical impact on the results of PCR and serology, consistent with known vector habitats. The rising numbers of horses tested serologically positive highlights the importance of surveillance.

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Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in horses in Central Germany

Cited by 5 publications

References 17 publications

Serological detection and risk factors for equine piroplasmosis in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

Serological detection and risk factors for equine piroplasmosis in the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil

Babesiosis in Southeastern, Central and Northeastern Europe: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Tick-Borne Disease of Humans and Animals

Molecular and Serological Detection of Vector-Borne Pathogens Responsible for Equine Piroplasmosis in Europe between 2008 and 2021

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