Molecular surveillance of Theileria equi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum infections in horses from Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia

Vet Parasitol. 2016 Jan 15:215:35-7. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2015.10.025. Epub 2015 Oct 29.

Abstract

A survey was undertaken to assess the prevalence of Theileria equi and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in some regions of Ukraine, Poland and Slovakia. Using a specific PCR assays, blood samples from 215 horses were tested. The prevalence of T. equi and A. phagocytophilum infection was 13.95% and 1.4%, respectively. BLAST analysis showed the isolates closest to the T. equi 18S rRNA and A. phagocytophilum msp4 gene sequences in GenBank with a similarity of ≥99%. No significant association was found between the T. equi PCR positivity and the age or sex of the horses. There was a significant association between the origin of horses and T. equi-PCR positivity. No significant association was found between the A. phagocytophilum-PCR positivity and the age, sex or origin.

Keywords: Anaplasma phagocytophilum; Horse; Poland; Slovakia; Theileria equi; Ukraine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anaplasma phagocytophilum*
  • Animals
  • Ehrlichiosis / epidemiology
  • Ehrlichiosis / parasitology
  • Ehrlichiosis / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / parasitology*
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Population Surveillance
  • Slovakia / epidemiology
  • Theileria / classification*
  • Theileriasis / epidemiology
  • Theileriasis / parasitology*
  • Ukraine / epidemiology