Seroprevalence and risk factor associated with endemicity of Theileria equi infection in horses in Rajasthan state, India

Equine piroplasmosis is a haemoprtozoan disease of equids and enzootic in Rajasthan prefecture of India. In endemic areas, the subclinical condition is more common, as infected equids recover from the disease and become latently infected. This study aimed to investigate the seroepidemiology and risk factors associated with the endemicity of Theileria equi infection in Rajasthan state.

A cross-sectional study on the seroprevalence of Theileria equi, was performed. Total of 151 serum samples collected from different areas of Rajasthan. The serum samples were screened by ELISA for assessment of seroprevalence of T. equi infection.

Overall seroprevalence of T. equi was 49.66%. A total of 75 T. equi seropositive horses were detected and one horse was clinically positive for T. equi infection. The clinical signs observed were - fever, haemoglobinuria, mild colic, anaemia and icteric conjunctival mucous membrane. Theileria equi infection is endemic among horses in Rajasthan state and Ajmer district found the most endemic. Haematological observations in T. equi clinically infected and healthy horses were studies. A decreased haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total erythrocytic counts were observed in T. equi infected horse in comparison to healthy horses. This observation showed anaemic condition in T. equi clinically infected equine. An increased concentration of liver enzymes - AST, ALP, GGT in T. equi infected equine was also recorded, which indicated the liver damage.