Investigation of Theileria equi, Babesia caballi, Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii by Serological Methods in Horse Breed for Touristic Purpose in Nevşehir Province

Abstract

Protozoan diseases cause deaths in horses and serious economic losses. Some of them have zoonotic potential and are important for public health. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of tissue (Neospora spp. and Toxoplasma gondii) and blood (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) protozoa of horses, raised for touristic purposes, in the Nevşehir provice Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. For this aim, a total of 105 blood samples were collected from female horses from various breeds between the ages of 3-24 in Nevşehir province. Sera samples were tested against anti-Neospora spp., T.equi and B.caballi antibodies with c-ELISA method, while Sabin Feldman Dye Test was used for the detection of anti-T.gondii antibodies. At the end of the serologic examination, it was determined that two of 105 (1.90%) horses had anti-Neospora spp.; nine (8.57%) had anti-T.gondii; two (1.90%) had anti-B.caballi and 77 (73.33%) had anti-T.equi antibodies. Mixed infections were also detected in one horse (0.95%) caused by T.equi, B.caballi and T.gondii, one (0.95%) by T.equi and B.caballi, two (1.90%) by Neospora spp. and T.equi and in six horses (5.71%) by T.gondii and T.equi. There was no statistically significant difference between the age groups and Neospora spp., T. gondii and B.caballi seropositivity, while high T.equi seroprevalence was found to be significant in horses over 7 years old with the chi-square test. With this study, it was set forth that the exposure rate to T.equi in horses in Nevşehir province in the Central Anatolia region is quite high; also the prevalence increases with age, and protozoal mixed infections are likely to occur, which should not be ignored in treatment.

Keywords

• Horse
• Nevşehir
• Blood and Tissue Protozoa
• Serology
• Turkey

Nevşehir İlinde Turistik Amaçlı Yetiştirilen Atlarda Theileria equii, Babesia caballi, Neospora spp. ve Toxoplasma gondii’nin Serolojik Yöntemlerle Araştırılması

Abstract

Protozoal hastalıklar atlarda ölümlere ve ciddi ekonomik kayıplara neden olur. Bazılarının zoonotik potansiyelleri ise halk sağlığı açısından önem arz eder. Bu çalışmanın amacı Nevşehir ilinde turistik amaçlarla yetiştirilen atlarda doku (Neospora spp. ve Toxoplasma gondii) ve kan (Theileria equi ve Babesia caballi) protozoonlarının yaygınlığını belirlemektir. Bu amaçla yaşları 3-24 arasındaki 105 dişi attan kan alınarak serumları çıkarılmıştır. Elde edilen serumlar Neospora spp., T.equi ve B.caballi antikorlarına karşı c-ELISA ve T.gondii antikorlarına karşı da Sabin-Feldman Dye testleri ile incelenmiştir. Çalışma sonucunda 105 atın ikisinde (%1,90) anti-Neospora spp., dokuzunda (%8.57) anti-T.gondii, ikisinde (%1,90) anti-B.caballi ve 77 (%73,33)’sinde de anti-T.equi antikorları tespit edilmiştir. Atlardan birinde (%0,95) T.equi, B.caballi ve T.gondii, birinde (%0,95) T.equi ve B.caballi, ikisinde (%1,90) Neospora spp. ve T.equi ve altısında (%5,71) ise T.gondii ve T.equi’nin neden olduğu miks enfeksiyonlar belirlenmiştir. Ki-kare testi ile ≤ 7 ve >7 yaş grupları ile Neospora spp., T.gondii ve B.caballi seroprevalansları arasında istatistiksel açıdan önemli bir fark bulunmazken, 7 yaş üzerindeki atlarda yüksek T.equi seroprevalansının önemli olduğu görülmüştür. Bu çalışma ile İç Anadolu bölgesinde Nevşehir ilinde atlarda T.equi’ye maruziyet oranının oldukça yüksek olduğu, prevalansın yaşla birlikte arttığı, ayrıca protozoon kaynaklı miks enfeksiyonların görülebileceği ve bunun tedavide göz ardı edilmemesi gereken bir durum olduğu ortaya konmuştur. 

Keywords

• At
• Nevşehir
• Kan ve Doku Protozoonları
• Seroloji
• Türkiye

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