MOLECULAR AND SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF THEILERIA EQUI AND BABESIA CABALLI IN EQUIDS IN SÃO LUIZ
Autor(es): Maria do Socorro Costa de Oliveira Braga, Francisca Neide Costa, Debora Regina Maia Gomes, Marcos Rogério André, Luiz Ricardo Gonçalves, Carla Roberta Freschi, Rosangela Zacarias Machado |
| Theileria equi and Babesia caballi are tick-borne hemoprotozoan that cause equine piroplasmosis, with a worldwide distribution. The aim of this study was to estimate the occurrence of T.equi and B.caballi in equids in São Luiz, state of Maranhão, Brazil, by serological and molecular techniques. EDTA-blood and serum samples were collected from 139 animals (100 donkeys e 39 horses). A crude antigenic preparation of T.equi was used to detect antibodies by an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The presence of antibodies to T.equi in serum samples was determined by both Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) and ELISA. Antibodies to B.caballi were detected by a recombinant protein (Bc-30 kDa)-ELISA only. Nested PCR assays were based on ema1 gene (102 bp) for T.equi and RAP1 gene (430 pb) for B.caballi. Antibodies to T.equi were detected in 27.33% (38/139) and 19.42% (27/139) of horses (by IFAT and ELISA, respectivally); 32 (25,02%) horses were seropositive to B.caballi. Among donkeys, 7,1% (ELISA) and 13,6% (IFAT) were seropositive for T.equi; 32 (23,02%) donkeys were seropositive for B.caballi. Out of 39 horses, 43,5% and 48,7% were positive for T.equi (by ELISA and IFAT, respectivally) and 7,7% for B.caballi (BY ELISA). Theileria equi and B.caballi DNA were detected in 23% (32/139) and 55.4% (77/139) of equid blood samples, respectively. Native and recombinant proteins of T.equi and B.caballi, respectivally, proved to be useful tools in seroprevalence studies. In addition, the results showed that T.equi and B.caballi circulate among donkeys and horses in São Luiz island, northeastern Brazil. |
