Molecular assessment of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi prevalence in horses and ticks on horses in southeastern France.

ABSTRACT: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease caused by Babesia caballi and Theileria equi that is potentially emerging in non-endemic countries. We conducted a descriptive study to investigate EP prevalence and spatial distribution in an endemic region: the Camargue and the Plain of La Crau in France. In spring 2015 and 2016, we carried out sampling at stables (total n = 46) with a history of horses presenting chronic fever or weight loss. Overall, we collected blood from 632 horses, which were also inspected for ticks; these horses had been housed in the target stables for at least 1 year. We obtained 585 ticks from these horses and described land use around the stables. Real-time PCR was employed to assess T. equi and B. caballi prevalence in the horses and in the ticks found on the

SUBMITTER: Rocafort-Ferrer G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8858311 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature