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Investigation of seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in Nigde province, Turkey

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Abstract

The prevalence of equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in Nigde, in central Anatolia, Turkey has remained unknown. Serum samples were obtained from a total of 125 horses and were tested for antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi using the Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). Twenty-three (18.4%) horses were seropositive for equine piroplasmosis. Anti-T. equi was observed in 16 horses (12.8%) while anti-B. caballi was detected in 12 horses (9.6%). In addition, 5 serum samples were positive for both parasites. The prevalence rates of antibodies to T. equi and B. caballi for female and male horses were statistically indifferent (p = 0.19 and 0.90). The difference between the seropositivity rates to T. equi among age groups was statistically insignificant (p = 0.44) while the difference to B. caballi among age groups is statistically significant (p = 0.01). Seropositivity rates ranged from 2.9% to 25.7% for T. equi and 2.9% to 14.3% for B. caballi from the selected districts in Nigde. A statistically significant difference on seropositivity rates for the study sites was observed for only T.equi (p = 0.03). This study indicates that T. equi is higher than B. caballi in Nigde.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Scientific Research Projects Unit of Nigde University for its financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nigde University, Bor Higher School for Business, 51700, Bor-Nigde, Turkey

    Bilge Karatepe & Mustafa Karatepe

  2. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    Ayşe Çakmak & Zafer Karaer

  3. Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Gül Ergün

Authors
  1. Bilge Karatepe
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  2. Mustafa Karatepe
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  3. Ayşe Çakmak
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  4. Zafer Karaer
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  5. Gül Ergün
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bilge Karatepe.

Additional information

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Projects Unit of Nigde University (FEB 2007/08).

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Karatepe, B., Karatepe, M., Çakmak, A. et al. Investigation of seroprevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in horses in Nigde province, Turkey. Trop Anim Health Prod 41, 109–113 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9164-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-008-9164-z

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