True Prevalence and Seroprevalence of Piroplasmosis in Horses in Southwestern Europe
Juan Duaso | Alejandro Perez-Ecija | Ana Navarro | Esther Martínez | Adelaida De Las Heras | Francisco J. Mendoza
Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is an endemic parasitic disease in southern European countries, such as Spain. Andalusia, the most southwestern region of Europe, is the community with the highest number of registered horses and farms in Spain and one of the main international exporters of Andalusian (Spanish Purebred) horses worldwide. Considering the current expansion of this disease and the possible effect of climate change on its prevalence, studying the EP prevalence in this region is compelling. Molecular (PCR) and serological methods (cELISA and IFAT) were used to study the true and apparent prevalences during a period of three consecutive years, evaluating the effects of age, sex, season, year of testing, and province. Results showed different EP prevalences between western and eastern provinces, as well as among seasons. Moreover, a positive association was observed between age and <i>T. equi</i> seropositivity, without any effect of sex. Our findings demonstrate that Andalusia is an EP endemic region, but prevalences were lower compared to central and northern Spanish regions. Moreover, EP prevalence has not increased in Andalusia in recent years despite climate changes.
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