Sumbria Deepak, Singla L D, Kumar Sanjay, Sharma Amrita, Dahiya Rajesh K, Setia Raj
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India.
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Sciences, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana-141004, Punjab, India.
Acta Trop. 2016 Mar;155:104-12. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2015.12.020. Epub 2015 Dec 30.
Equine piroplasmosis is a febrile, tick-borne disease of equids predominately caused by obligatory intra-erythrocytic protozoa Theileria equi in the Indian sub-continent. A cross-sectional study was carried out on 464 equids (426 horses and 38 donkeys/mules) in Punjab, India to assess the level of exposure to equine piroplasmosis by 18S rRNA gene nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR) and equine merozoite antigen-2 (EMA2) indirect-ELISA (enzyme linked immunosorbent assay), to investigate risk factors and haemato-biochemical alterations associated with the infection. The endemicity of the disease was confirmed by positive PCR amplification in 21.77% and positive antibody titers in 49.78% equid samples. There was a fair agreement between these two diagnostic techniques (Kappa coefficient=0.326). The spatial distribution analysis revealed an increasing trend of T. equi prevalence from north-eastern to south-western region of Punjab by both the techniques correspondingly, which proffered a direct relation with temperature and inverse with humidity variables. The relatively prominent risk factor associated with sero-positivity was the presence of other domestic animals in the herd, while the propensity of finding a positive PCR amplification was higher in donkeys/mules, animal kept at unorganised farm or those used for commercial purposes as compared to their counterparts. There was a significant increase in globulins, gamma glutamyl-transferase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin, glucose levels and decrease in total erythrocyte count, haemoglobin, packed cell volume by animals, which were revealed positive by nPCR (may or may not positive by indirect-ELISA) and increase in creatinine, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, glucose and decrease in total erythrocytes count by animals, which were revealed positive by indirect-ELISA (alone). To our knowledge, this study, for the first time, brings out a comprehensive report on the status on spatial distribution of T. equi in Punjab (India) state, thoroughly investigated by molecular and serological techniques, evaluating various environmental and demographic risk factors along with the haemato-biochemical alterations in the exposed animals.
马焦虫病是一种由蜱传播的马属动物发热性疾病，在印度次大陆主要由专性红细胞内原生动物马泰勒虫引起。在印度旁遮普邦对464匹马属动物（426匹马和38头驴/骡）进行了一项横断面研究，通过18S rRNA基因巢式聚合酶链反应（nPCR）和马裂殖子抗原-2（EMA2）间接酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）评估马焦虫病的暴露水平，调查与感染相关的危险因素和血液生化改变。通过PCR阳性扩增在21.77%的马属动物样本中以及通过阳性抗体滴度在49.78%的马属动物样本中证实了该病的地方性流行。这两种诊断技术之间存在一定程度的一致性（卡帕系数=0.326）。空间分布分析表明，两种技术相应地显示出马泰勒虫在旁遮普邦从东北部到西南部地区的流行趋势呈上升趋势，这与温度呈直接关系，与湿度变量呈反比关系。与血清阳性相关的相对突出的危险因素是畜群中存在其他家畜，而与驴/骡相比，在无组织养殖场饲养的动物或用于商业目的的动物中发现PCR阳性扩增的倾向更高。通过nPCR检测呈阳性（间接ELISA可能阳性也可能阴性）的动物，球蛋白、γ-谷氨酰转移酶、总胆红素、直接胆红素、间接胆红素、葡萄糖水平显著升高，总红细胞计数、血红蛋白、血细胞比容降低；通过间接ELISA单独检测呈阳性的动物，肌酐、总胆红素、直接胆红素、葡萄糖升高，总红细胞计数降低。据我们所知，本研究首次全面报告了印度旁遮普邦马泰勒虫的空间分布状况，通过分子和血清学技术进行了深入调查，评估了各种环境和人口统计学危险因素以及暴露动物的血液生化改变。
