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Galon EM, Macalanda AM, Garcia MM, Ibasco CJ, Garvida A, Ji S, Zafar I, Hasegawa Y, Liu M, Ybañez RH, Umemiya-Shirafuji R, Ybañez A, Claveria F, Xuan X. Molecular Identification of Selected Tick-Borne Protozoan and Bacterial Pathogens in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Cavite, Philippines. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10101318. [PMID: 34684266 PMCID: PMC8537292 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10101318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) considerably impair equine health and productivity. Moreover, TBDs, particularly equine piroplasmosis, impede international movement and trade of equids, which is a vital component of the global horse racing industry. In the Philippines, horse racing is a lucrative industry generating millions of USD annually. However, information on equine TBDs is scarce. This study intended to describe molecularly the equine tick-borne infections in a racehorse park in Cavite, Philippines and identify the risk factors associated with the infections. One hundred twenty-four (n = 124) thoroughbred racehorses were sampled and screened for selected tick-borne protozoan and bacterial pathogens using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Racehorses were positive for Babesia caballi (12.10%; 15/124), Theileria equi (0.81%; 1/124), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (10.48%; 13/124), Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (38.71%; 48/124), A. marginale (0.81%; 1/124), and Coxiella burnetii (0.81%; 1/124). Rickettsia was not detected in the samples. Gender was determined as a significant risk factor for B. caballi infection. Sequencing analysis revealed that seven partial 18S rRNA B. caballi isolates shared 98.63–100% identity with each other and were classified as genotype A. Meanwhile, the sequence obtained from the lone T. equi-positive sample was 99.77% identical to isolates from Spain, Switzerland, China, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea, and was confirmed as genotype E based on the 18S rRNA gene. Eight Anaplasma 16S rRNA partial sequences were highly identical to A. phagocytophilum and A. ovis. Partial sequences of Borrelia 5–23S rRNA were most closely related to B. japonica and other Borrelia sp. isolates from various countries. This study reports the first molecular detection of Borrelia and Anaplasma and the identification of B. caballi and T. equi genotypes in racehorses in the Philippines. Findings from this study shall be useful in crafting equine tick and TBD control and prevention programs in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eloiza May Galon
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Adrian Miki Macalanda
- Department of Immunopathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines; (M.M.G.); (C.J.I.)
- Correspondence: (A.M.M.); (X.X.)
| | - Mary Margarett Garcia
- Department of Immunopathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines; (M.M.G.); (C.J.I.)
| | - Chrysler James Ibasco
- Department of Immunopathology and Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Cavite State University, Indang 4122, Philippines; (M.M.G.); (C.J.I.)
| | - Anatolio Garvida
- Saddle & Clubs Leisure Park, Philippine Racing Club Inc., Naic 4110, Philippines;
| | - Shengwei Ji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Iqra Zafar
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Yae Hasegawa
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Mingming Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Arts and Science, Xiangyang 441053, China;
| | - Rochelle Haidee Ybañez
- Institute of Molecular Parasitology and Protozoan Diseases, Main Campus and College of Veterinary Medicine, Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Cebu City 6000, Philippines; (R.H.Y.); (A.Y.)
| | - Rika Umemiya-Shirafuji
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
| | - Adrian Ybañez
- Institute of Molecular Parasitology and Protozoan Diseases, Main Campus and College of Veterinary Medicine, Barili Campus, Cebu Technological University, Cebu City 6000, Philippines; (R.H.Y.); (A.Y.)
| | - Florencia Claveria
- Biology Department, College of Science, De La Salle University, Manila 1004, Philippines;
| | - Xuenan Xuan
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro 080-8555, Japan; (E.M.G.); (S.J.); (I.Z.); (Y.H.); (R.U.-S.)
- Correspondence: (A.M.M.); (X.X.)
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