title: Seroepidemiological survey of Rhodoccocus equi infection in asymptomatic horses from Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul provinces, Turkey.
abstract: In order to assess the Rhodococcus equi infection in three provinces of Turkey (Bursa, Izmir and Istanbul), 696 sera from healthy foals and adult horses were tested by indirect ELISA using a R. equi reference strain (ATCC 6939) as antigen. 103 sera (14.80%) with titres >0.646 resulted positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher (P=0.0053) in male than in female horses of Istanbul province, although higher antibody titres (mean value) were observed in the female group of Bursa and Izmir provinces with differences estimated between provinces (P=0.0002). Seroprevalence was correlated with age: foals aged less than 1 year (P<10(-4)) and horses from 5 to 10 years old (P=0.018) resulted more infected in Bursa and Izmir provinces. Our findings indicate that R. equi infection actually occurs in all investigated provinces, suggesting the importance of serological survey to diagnose the infection and to prevent the zoonotic risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, Camerino University, Via Circonvallazione 93/95, Matelica, Italy.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Attili
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kennerman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Or
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Marenzoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torun
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pieramati
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kayar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Golcu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parkan
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonul
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Valente
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuteri
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D016929:Rhodococcus equi / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial