Seroprevalence of Tick-Borne Infections in Horses from Northern Italy.
Authors: Villa Luca, Gazzonis Alessia Libera, Allievi Carolina, De Maria Claudia, Persichetti Maria Flaminia, Caracappa Giulia, Zanzani Sergio Aurelio, Manfredi Maria Teresa
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Tick-Borne Infections in Northern Italian Horses Climate and ecological shifts are expanding tick distributions across Europe, with potentially serious consequences for equine health; this Italian research examined seropositivity to three significant tick-borne pathogens in 261 northern Italian horses using indirect immunofluorescence testing. Overall, 51% of horses showed antibodies to at least one pathogen—specifically *Anaplasma phagocytophilum* (23.4%), *Babesia caballi* (18.8%), and *Theileria equi* (18.8%)—with 12.3% harbouring concurrent infections, most commonly *B. caballi* and *T. equi* together (5.7%). Elevation above sea level emerged as a significant risk factor across all three agents, though with contrasting patterns: *A. phagocytophilum* risk increased with altitude whilst *B. caballi* and *T. equi* risk decreased, suggesting distinct ecological niches for their respective tick vectors in mountainous terrain. For practitioners managing horses in northern Italy and comparable regions, these findings underscore the need for robust tick control strategies and highlight the value of serological screening, particularly in horses with non-specific clinical signs that might reflect occult piroplasma or anaplasmosis infections.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Over half of horses in northern Italy show serological evidence of tick-borne pathogen exposure; implement robust tick control programs year-round
- •Multiple pathogen co-infections occur in approximately 12% of cases, complicating diagnosis and treatment decisions—serological testing for all three agents is warranted
- •Geographic location (elevation) influences infection risk; tailor monitoring and prevention strategies based on local geography and tick ecology
Key Findings
- •Overall seroprevalence to at least one tick-borne pathogen was 51% in northern Italian horses
- •A. phagocytophilum seroprevalence was 23.4%, while B. caballi and T. equi were each 18.8%
- •Co-infection was detected in 32 horses (12.3%), with B. caballi and T. equi co-infection being most common at 5.7%
- •Elevation above sea level was a significant risk factor for all three pathogens, with opposing directional effects