Serological survey of Rhodococcus equi infection in horses in Hokkaido.
Serological survey of Rhodococcus equi infection in horses in Hokkaido was performed using ELISA. Of 2,879 horse sera, 318 (11.0%) gave antibody-positive (OD greater than or equal to 0.3) reactions. The antibody-positive rate of female was significantly higher (p less than 0.01) than that of male, and no statistical difference between Anglo-Arab and thoroughbred was detected in the antibody-positive rate. The maximum antibody-positive rate (27.1%) was shown at 14 years of age. The antibody-positive rates on the 160 farms were found to vary widely from 0 to 78.9%. A significant difference (p less than 0.01) in the antibody-positive rate was detected among horse farms. It was elucidated that 100 (62.5%) out of 160 horse farms had an antibody-positive horse. These results indicate that R. equi was widespread on horse farms, and the level of environmental contamination with R. equi differed among horse farms.
Sanada
Y
Y
Department of Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Hokkaido, Japan.
Noda
H
H
Nagahata
H
H
D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001947:Breeding; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000276:immunology*; D012737:Sex Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial