title: Seroprevalence of Babesia caballi and Theileria equi in five draught equine populated metropolises of Punjab, Pakistan.
abstract: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) caused by intraerythrocytic parasites (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi) is an emerging equine disease of world-wide distribution. In Pakistan, the prevalence and incidence of EP are unknown. In order to obtain the first insights into the prevalence of the disease, a total of 430 equids, including 33 mules, 65 horses and 332 donkeys, aging from ≤ 5 to ≥ 10 years of either sex, from five metropolises of Punjab, Pakistan, were serologically tested for the presence of antibodies directed against B. caballi and T. equi, using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Out of 430 equid serum samples tested, 226 (52.6%, 95% CI 47.7-57.4) were found cELISA positive for EP (T. equi and/or B. caballi infections). The overall seroprevalence of EP was 41.2% (95% CI 36.5-46.0) for T. equi and 21.6% (95% CI 17.8-25.8) for B. caballi. A small proportion of equids (10.2%, 95% CI 7.5-13.5) was seropositive for both T. equi and B. caballi. Seroprevalence of T. equi was significantly higher (P<0.01) in equines from the metropolis of Lahore (66.7%, 95% CI 54.3-77.6) and in horses (56.9%, 95% CI 44.0-69.2). Multivariable logistic regression model analysis indicated that factors associated with prevalence of EP were being an equine species kept in metropolis Lahore (OR=4.24, 95% CI 2.28-7.90), horse (OR=2.82, 95% CI 1.53-5.20) and male equids (OR=1.81, 95% CI 1.15-2.86).
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Electronic address: m.hammad.hussain@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Muhammad Hammad
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saqib
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Science, PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Ghulam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Nadeem
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Asi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad Khalid
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mansoor
authors.affiliation: The Brooke Hospital for Animals, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Abdul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabbar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D001403:Babesia; D001404:Babesiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018397:Equidae / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006736:Horses; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D016794:Theileria; D013801:Theileriasis / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan
keywords: Babesia caballi; Draught equines; Pakistan; Piroplasmosis; Seroprevalence; Theileria equi; cELISA