Seroprevalência de Theileria equi em Portugal
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2014
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A piroplasmose equina é causada pelos hemoprotozoários Theileria equi e Babesia caballi, que são transmitidos por carraças. Esta doença tem uma distribuição mundial e representa um importante problema a nível da movimentação de equinos e do seu comércio.
Os cavalos com piroplasmose podem estar subclinicamente infectados ou apresentar sinais clínicos como febre, anemia e edema. Em alguns casos a piroplasmose pode causar a morte. A transmissão congénita de Theileria equi pode levar a aborto ou morte neonatal. Torna-se, então, fundamental tratar os cavalos positivos e implementar medidas preventivas de combate aos vectores, no sentido de reduzir a transmissão dos parasitas causadores de doença. Ainda nesse sentido, é de todo necessário estimar a prevalência da doença para podermos tomar medidas assertivas.
No presente estudo foram recolhidas amostras de sangue a 180 equinos, nas regiões Norte, Centro e Sul (Alentejo e Algarve) de Portugal. O sangue foi processado para a obtenção de plasma, e posteriormente foi submetido a um teste de cELISA (“Babesia equi Antibody Test Kit”, VMRD Inc.) para a pesquisa de anticorpos específicos, no sentido de se avaliar a seroprevalência de infecção ou exposição a T. equi.
Os resultados de seroprevalência de T. equi revelaram que 96 (53,3%) dos animais testados foram positivos e os outros 84 (46,7%) apresentaram resultados negativos.
No que diz respeito à variável idade foi verificado que os animais com mais de 16 anos apresentavam seropositividade (76,5%) significativamente mais elevada do que os animais com 1 a 5 anos inclusive (42,6%); assim como os animais que residiam na região Sul do País (66,1%) apresentavam seropositividade significativamente mais elevada do que os que viviam na região Norte (42,4%) ou na região Centro (18,8%). As diferenças entre as categorias das variáveis género, estabulação, aptidão, presença de sinais clínicos, vacinação, desparasitação interna e externa e presença de carraças não foram estatisticamente significativas.
Uma vez que este é o primeiro estudo realizado conjuntamente nas regiões Norte, Centro e Sul de Portugal, foi possível concluir que nos encontramos num país com elevados níveis de seroprevalência de infecção por T. equi.
Equine piroplasmosis is caused by haemoprotozoan parasites (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi), which are transmitted by ticks. This disease has a worldwide distribution and is an important problem to the international movement of horses and to the horse breeding industry. Horses with babesiosis can be subclinically infected or develop clinical signs such as fever, jaundice, anemia, lethargy and even death. The congenital transmission of T. equi may cause abortion or neonatal mortality. So, it is fundamental to treat positive horses and implement preventive measures in order to control ticks and reduce the transmission of these disease-causative parasites. In that sense, it is necessary to estimate the prevalence of infection and also disease to plan and apply correct control measures. In this study blood samples were collected from 180 horses, in the North, Center and South (Alentejo and Algarve) regions of Portugal. Blood was processed to obtain plasma. Plasma samples were submitted to a competitive ELISA test (“Babesia equi Antibody Test Kit”, VMRD Inc.) to detected specific antibodies, in order to assess the seroprevalence of infection or exposure to T. equi. Results show that 96 (53.3%) of the tested animals were seropositive to T. equi and the other 84 (46.7%) were seronegative. Animals aged above 16 years old had a significantly higher seropositivity (76.5%) than animals with 1 to 5 years (42.6%). Animals living in Southern of the Country (66.1%) had significantly higher seropositivity than those living in the North (42.4%) or in the Centre (18.8%) regions. Differences between the categories of the variables gender, housing, capability, clinical signs, vaccination, internal and external desparasitation and ticks were not statistically significant. Considering that, this is the first study carried out simultaneously in the North, Centre and South regions of Portugal, we can conclude that this is a country with high levels of seroprevalence of T. equi infection.
Equine piroplasmosis is caused by haemoprotozoan parasites (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi), which are transmitted by ticks. This disease has a worldwide distribution and is an important problem to the international movement of horses and to the horse breeding industry. Horses with babesiosis can be subclinically infected or develop clinical signs such as fever, jaundice, anemia, lethargy and even death. The congenital transmission of T. equi may cause abortion or neonatal mortality. So, it is fundamental to treat positive horses and implement preventive measures in order to control ticks and reduce the transmission of these disease-causative parasites. In that sense, it is necessary to estimate the prevalence of infection and also disease to plan and apply correct control measures. In this study blood samples were collected from 180 horses, in the North, Center and South (Alentejo and Algarve) regions of Portugal. Blood was processed to obtain plasma. Plasma samples were submitted to a competitive ELISA test (“Babesia equi Antibody Test Kit”, VMRD Inc.) to detected specific antibodies, in order to assess the seroprevalence of infection or exposure to T. equi. Results show that 96 (53.3%) of the tested animals were seropositive to T. equi and the other 84 (46.7%) were seronegative. Animals aged above 16 years old had a significantly higher seropositivity (76.5%) than animals with 1 to 5 years (42.6%). Animals living in Southern of the Country (66.1%) had significantly higher seropositivity than those living in the North (42.4%) or in the Centre (18.8%) regions. Differences between the categories of the variables gender, housing, capability, clinical signs, vaccination, internal and external desparasitation and ticks were not statistically significant. Considering that, this is the first study carried out simultaneously in the North, Centre and South regions of Portugal, we can conclude that this is a country with high levels of seroprevalence of T. equi infection.
Descrição
Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária
Palavras-chave
Cavalo , Piroplasmose , Portugal , Theileria , Teste ELISA