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An initial survey of 150 horses from Thailand for anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies
Z Mar Htun1, A Laikul2, W Pathomsakulwong3
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Microbiology, University of Medicine, Mandalay, Myanmar; Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Introduction:
Pythium insidiosum causes a life-threatening infection termed pythiosis in humans and other animals. The organism has been identified in tropical and subtropical environments worldwide. Since 1985, human pythiosis has been increasingly reported from Thailand. Seroprevalence studies estimated that 32,000 Thai people had been exposed to the pathogen. In 2018, the first animal pythiosis case in Thailand was diagnosed in a horse. Here, we investigated the seroprevalence of anti-P. insidiosum antibodies in the Thai equine population.
Materials And Methods:
We surveyed serum anti-P. insidiosum antibodies in 150 horses distributed across Thailand, using three established serological tests: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunochromatographic test (ICT), and Western blot analysis.
Results:
ELISA detected the anti-P. insidiosum antibodies in three horses. ICT and Western blot confirmed the presence of the antibodies in one of the ELISA-positive horses. Based on one positive out of 150 horses tested, the seroprevalence of anti-P. insidiosum antibodies in the Thai equine population was 0.7%, which is markedly higher than that in the Thai human population (0.07%), but much lower than that in the Brazilian equine population (11.1%).
Conclusion:
The seroprevalence of the anti-P. insidiosum antibodies in the equine population suggests a higher incidence of pythiosis in horses than in humans. The antibody surveillance reported by our group was undertaken to promote a better understanding of the epidemiology and host susceptibility of pythiosis in Thailand.
Insights
This study found that 0.7% of horses in Thailand had antibodies to Pythium insidiosum, a pathogen causing pythiosis. This indicates a higher incidence in horses than humans, highlighting the need for further research on equine pythiosis epidemiology.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Pythium insidiosum causes severe pythiosis in humans and animals globally.
- Human pythiosis cases have risen in Thailand since 1985, with an estimated 32,000 exposed.
- The first equine pythiosis case in Thailand was reported in 2018.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the seroprevalence of anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies in the Thai equine population.
- To compare pythiosis seroprevalence between Thai horses and humans.
- To contribute to understanding pythiosis epidemiology and host susceptibility in Thailand.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples from 150 horses across Thailand were analyzed.
- Three serological tests were employed: ELISA, ICT, and Western blot.
- Antibody detection focused on Pythium insidiosum.
Main Results:
- Anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies were detected in three horses by ELISA.
- One horse tested positive across all three serological assays.
- The seroprevalence of antibodies in Thai horses was 0.7%.
Conclusions:
- The seroprevalence suggests a higher incidence of pythiosis in horses compared to humans in Thailand.
- This antibody surveillance provides insights into pythiosis epidemiology in equines.
- Further research is needed to understand host susceptibility and disease burden in Thai horses.
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