Epidemiology, diagnosis and therapy of Theileria equi infection in Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Aim: To study the prevalence of Theileria equi among horses in different age groups, both sexes, months and seasons of the year, and regions of Giza governourate. Studying the changes in the blood picture, blood chemistries, liver enzymes associate with T.equi infections in horses. Evaluating IFA and CFT at different dilutions in the serodiagnosis of T.equi infections in horses. Evaluating four anti-Theileria medication regimens (diminazine aceturate, imidiocarb 7%, buparvaquone and a combination of imidiocarb 7% and buparvaquone) in treatment of T.equi infections in horses. Materials and Methods: Total of 149 horses were examined by clinical signs and blood smears. Fortey whole blood samples from T.equi infected horses were examined to measure haemoglobin, total RBCs count and PCV. Fortey serum samples from T.equi infected horses were examined to measure total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, ALT and AST enzymes. Serum samples from T.equi infected (40) and non infected (14) horses were tested by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFA) and complement fixation test (CFT) at different dilutions. Four groups of T.equiinfected horses (A,B,C,D), each group was represented by 10 horses and was separately treated with diminazine aceturate, imidiocarb 7%, buparvaquone and a combination of imidiocarb 7% and buparvaquone respectively. Results: the prevalence of T.equi was 41.61% in totally examined horses. The prevalence was higher in males than females. The highest prevalence was among age group ranged from 5-10 years as (22.81%). The highest prevalence was in July and was recorded as (25.81%) and the disease was more prevalent in summer than winter. The highest prevalence was recorded in Nazlet-alsamman as (51.61%). Equine theileriosis was clinically characterized by fever, haemoglobinuria, oedema, anaemia and icterus. The best dilution for IFA was 1/160 where sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were the highest for this test as (98%), (92.86%) and (97.44%) respectively. The best dilution for CFT was 1/32 where sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were collectively the best as (90%), (92.86%) and (90.74%) respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that T.equi is prevalent among horses in Giza governourate, its prevalence is varied according to the age, sex of horses, months, seasons and regions. T.equiinfections in horses are accompanied with changes in blood pictures, blood chemistries and liver enzymes. Both IFA and CFT could be used for the serodiagnosis of T.equi . The used four anti-Theileria medication regimens have the same ability to eradicate T.equi from the infected horses.