Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Agrifood Excellence International Campus ceiA3, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Vet J. 2013 Feb;195(2):172-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2012.06.012. Epub 2012 Jul 10.
A cross-sectional study was carried out on equids (horses, mules and donkeys) in Andalusia, Southern Spain, to assess the level of exposure to equine piroplasmosis and to investigate risk factors associated with these infections. At least one animal seropositive for Theileria equi and/or Babesia caballi was detected in 222/380 (58.4%) herds sampled by competitive inhibition ELISAs. The seroprevalences for B. caballi and T. equi were 13.2% and 56.1%, respectively; there was serological evidence of co-circulation of both piroplasms in 10.8% of herds. Antibodies against equine piroplasms were detected in 286/537 (53.3%) animals; 61 (11.4%) were seropositive for B. caballi, 270 (50.3%) were seropositive for T. equi and 24 (8.4%) were seropositive for both T. equi and B. caballi. There was a significantly higher seroprevalence of B. caballi in mules (32.1%) compared with donkeys (17.0%) and horses (7.9%), and a significantly higher seroprevalence of T. equi in mules (66.1%) in comparison with horses (48.6%), but not donkeys (47.2%). There were significant differences in prevalence of both piroplasms among locations; the seroprevalence of B. caballi ranged from 0 to 22.5%, while the seropositivity to T. equi ranged from 26.7 to 63.3%. A multiple logistic regression model indicated that the risk factors associated with a higher T. equi seroprevalence were increased age, presence of ticks and vaccination against other diseases. Risk factors associated with a higher seroprevalence of B. caballi were species (mules compared to horses), entry of horses in the last 6months, presence of ticks and presence of shelter. The findings indicate widespread exposure to equine piroplasmosis in Southern Spain.
本研究在西班牙南部的安大路西亚地区针对马属动物（马、骡子和驴）进行了一项横断面研究，旨在评估马梨形虫病的暴露水平，并调查与这些感染相关的风险因素。通过竞争性抑制 ELISA 对 380 个牧场中的 222 个进行了抽样检测，至少有 1 只动物血清阳性，表明感染了马梨形虫和（或）巴贝斯虫。巴贝斯虫的血清阳性率为 13.2%，而泰勒虫的血清阳性率为 56.1%；10.8%的牧场存在两种梨形虫的血清学混合感染。在 537 只动物中检测到了抗马梨形虫的抗体；61 只（11.4%）为巴贝斯虫血清阳性，270 只（50.3%）为泰勒虫血清阳性，24 只（8.4%）为泰勒虫和巴贝斯虫双重血清阳性。骡子的巴贝斯虫血清阳性率（32.1%）明显高于驴（17.0%）和马（7.9%），骡子的泰勒虫血清阳性率（66.1%）明显高于马（48.6%），但与驴（47.2%）无显著差异。两种梨形虫的流行率在不同地区存在显著差异；巴贝斯虫的血清阳性率范围为 0-22.5%，而泰勒虫的血清阳性率范围为 26.7-63.3%。多因素逻辑回归模型表明，与较高的泰勒虫血清阳性率相关的风险因素包括年龄较大、有蜱虫存在和接种了其他疾病疫苗。与较高的巴贝斯虫血清阳性率相关的风险因素包括物种（骡子与马相比）、马在过去 6 个月内进入牧场、有蜱虫存在和有遮蔽物。研究结果表明，西班牙南部地区广泛存在马梨形虫病的感染。
