Assessment of Theileria Equi and Babesia Caballi Infections in Equine Populations in Egypt by Molecular, Serological and Hematological Approaches

Overview

Journal Parasit Vectors

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialties Parasitology
Tropical Medicine

Date 2016 May 6

PMID 27146413

Citations 25

Authors

Mona S Mahmoud

Nadia T Abu El-Ezz

Sobhy Abdel-Shafy

Somia A Nassar

Amira H El Namaky

Wagdy K B Khalil

Don Knowles

Lowell Kappmeyer

Marta G Silva

Carlos E Suarez

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) caused by Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, or both, contributes to significant economic loss in the equine industry and remains uncontrolled in Egypt. This study focuses on surveying T. equi and B. caballi infections and hematological disorders in equine populations in Egypt.

Methods: Theileria equi and B. caballi infections were assessed in blood from 88 horses and 51 donkeys in Egypt using light microscopy, indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT), nested PCR (nPCR), and competitive-ELISA (cELISA) assays. PCR products were examined for specificity by DNA sequencing. Hematological alterations were evaluated using a standard cell counter.

Results: Microscopic analysis revealed EP infection in 11.4% and 17.8% of horses and donkeys respectively. IFAT detected 23.9% and 17.0% infection of T. equi and B. caballi, respectively, in horses, and 31.4% of T. equi and B. caballi in donkeys. T. equi cELISA detected 14.8% and 23.5% positive horses and donkeys, respectively, but the B. caballi RAP-1-based cELISA failed to detect any positives, a result hypothesized to be caused by sequence polymorphism found in the rap-1 genes. Nested-PCR analysis identified 36.4% and 43.1% positive horses and donkeys, respectively for T. equi and it also identified 19.3% and 15.7% positive horses and donkeys, respectively for B. caballi. The overall EP incidence found in the population under study was relatively high and comparable regardless of the diagnostic method used (56.8% using nPCR and 48.9% using IFAT). Hematologic analysis revealed macrocytic hypochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia in all piroplasma-infected horses.

Conclusions: The data confirm relatively high levels of EP, likely causing hematological abnormalities in equines in Egypt, and also suggest the need for an improved serological test to diagnose B. caballi infection in this region.

Citing Articles

First Molecular Characterization of Theileria equi from Northeastern Algeria.

Sadeddine R, Righi S, Saidani K, Benakhla A Acta Parasitol. 2025; 70(2):66.

PMID: 40050535 DOI: 10.1007/s11686-025-01006-1.

[Equine piroplasmosis: Case descriptions and overview of the epidemiological situation in Europe with focus on Germany].

Axt C, Springer A, von Luckner J, Naucke T, Muller E, Strube C Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere. 2024; 53(1):49-58.

PMID: 39631762 PMC: 11835481. DOI: 10.1055/a-2457-5516.

New insights in the diagnosis and treatment of equine piroplasmosis: pitfalls, idiosyncrasies, and myths.

Mendoza F, Perez-Ecija A, Kappmeyer L, Suarez C, Bastos R Front Vet Sci. 2024; 11:1459989.

PMID: 39205808 PMC: 11349644. DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1459989.

Molecular and immunological studies on Theileria equi and its vector in Egypt.

Ramadan R, Taha N, Auda H, Elsamman E, El-Bahy M, Salem M Exp Appl Acarol. 2024; 93(2):439-458.

PMID: 38967736 PMC: 11269342. DOI: 10.1007/s10493-024-00933-4.

Impact of Equine and Camel Piroplasmosis in Egypt: How Much Do We Know about the Current Situation?.

Elsawy B, Mahmoud M, Suarez C, Alzan H Pathogens. 2023; 12(11).

PMID: 38003783 PMC: 10675018. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12111318.

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