Serological and molecular detection of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in Mexico: A prospective study

PLoS One. 2022 Mar 8;17(3):e0264998. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264998. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Equine piroplasmosis is a disease of horses, mules and donkeys, caused by the hemoprotozoans Babesia caballi and Theileria equi and transmitted by ticks of tropical and subtropical regions. Because the clinical signs are not specific, the diagnosis of equine piroplasmosis is difficult. In Mexico, where the environmental factors are conducive to the persistence of these pathogens, there is a lack of molecular studies to evaluate the occurrence of both parasites in horses. In the present study, matching serum and whole blood samples were obtained from 269 horses residing in 24 locations with tropical or subtropical climate and the presence of ticks. Testing of serum samples by ELISA demonstrated 55.7% seroprevalence of B. caballi and 68.4% prevalence of antibodies to T. equi. Blood samples analyzed with nPCR test were 7.8% positive to B. caballi and 78.8% positive to T. equi, while a duplex qPCR showed 15.24% positive samples to B. caballi and 59.11% to T. equi. From these results, 27 samples were sequenced for T. equi and 13 for B. caballi, confirming the presence of both horse parasites that cause equine piroplasmosis and suggesting that they are widespread in Mexico. This is the first study confirming the presence of B. caballi and T. equi in Mexico using both serological and molecular diagnostic methods. This study shows a high incidence of exposure to the etiological agents of equine piroplasmosis in horses in the studied areas.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Babesia* / genetics
  • Babesiosis* / diagnosis
  • Babesiosis* / epidemiology
  • Cattle
  • Equidae / parasitology
  • Horse Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases* / parasitology
  • Horses
  • Mexico / epidemiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Theileria* / genetics
  • Theileriasis* / diagnosis
  • Theileriasis* / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis* / parasitology
  • Ticks* / parasitology

Grants and funding

This work was supported by CONACyT-Problemas Nacionales PN2017-7256 (JM), Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro. FONDEC, FNV-2020-05 (JM), and USDA-ARS Offshore project 2090-32000-039-18-A (MWU). Elizabeth Salinas received a fellowship from CONACyT Beca Nacional and Beca Mixta programs. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.