Seroprevalence of Anti-<i>Theileria equi</i> Antibodies in Horses from Three Geographically Distinct Areas of Romania
Simona Giubega,
Marius Stelian Ilie,
Iasmina Luca,
Tiana Florea,
Cristian Dreghiciu,
Ion Oprescu,
Sorin Morariu,
Gheorghe Dărăbuș
Affiliations
Simona Giubega
Department of Parasitology and Dermatology, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Marius Stelian Ilie
Department of Parasitology and Dermatology, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Iasmina Luca
Department of Parasitology and Dermatology, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Tiana Florea
Department of Parasitology and Dermatology, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Cristian Dreghiciu
Department of Parasitology and Dermatology, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Ion Oprescu
Department of Parasitology and Dermatology, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Sorin Morariu
Department of Parasitology and Dermatology, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Gheorghe Dărăbuș
Department of Parasitology and Dermatology, Banat University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine “Regele Mihai I al Romaniei” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania
Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an endemic tick-borne disease found in most countries around the world. It affects all species of Equidae, and it is caused by Theileria equi, Babesia caballi and T. haneyi. The research herein is the second study on the prevalence of piroplasms in Romania conducted in the past two decades. The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of anti-Theileria equi antibodies and the geographical distribution of this disease in the southwest, west, and northwest regions of Romania in order to obtain a more thorough understanding of the parasitological status of horses in this country. This study included 522 apparently healthy, mixed-breed horses from three different counties. The serum samples were analysed using the cELISA Theileria equi Antibody Test Kit. The overall seroprevalence rate was 12.84%. From the total number of positive horses, 13.96% were females and 11.21% were males. Based on the distribution of positive cases into age groups, the following values were obtained: 0–60 months: 16.26%, 60–180 months: 10.03%, and >180 months: 15.83%. There was no statistically significant difference between samples, based on age or gender. The positivity percentage in the localities included in the study ranged from 8.33 to 100%. In the population under study, the seroprevalence rate was high, indicating a possible exposure risk in this area of Romania, which could have severe effects on equids in the case of clinical manifestations of the disease. EP represents a serious threat for equine health in Romania; therefore, close and continuous monitoring of the situation is required.
