High Seroprevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis in Thoroughbred Farms in Southern Brazil

• Published in: Journal of equine veterinary science Vol. 128; p. 104890
• Main Authors: de Souza, Rafaela P., Mousquer, Mariana A., Müller, Vitória, Barbosa, Jéssica Carolina Reis, Leite, Fábio Pereira Leivas, Guedes, Roberto Maurício C., Curcio, Bruna da Rosa, Nogueira, Carlos E.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2023
• Subjects: Antibodies; Equine; Equine proliferative enteropathy; Immunoperoxidase Monolayer Assay; Antibodies; Immunoperoxidase Monolayer Assay; Equine; Equine proliferative enteropathy; antibodies; equine
• ISSN: 0737-0806; 1542-7412
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104890

•The percentage of detection of Lawsonia intracellularis specific serum antibodies in the Thoroughbred horses in southern Brazil was 51%.•Broodmares showed the highest percentage of detection (86.8%).•Foals of 0−6 months of age had the lowest (5.2%). The aim of the present study was to carry out a serological survey to identify the seroprevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis in six Thoroughbred farms in the Southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. During 2019 and 2020, blood samples from 686 Thoroughbred horses were obtained from six different breeding farms. Horses were divided into groups according to age: (1) broodmares (>5 years), (2) two-year-old foals, (3) yearlings, and (4) 0−6 months-old foals. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture of the external jugular vein. The detection of antibodies (IgG) against L. intracellularis was performed by Immunoperoxidase Monolayer Assay. The detection of specific antibodies (IgG) against L. intracellularis in the evaluated population was 51%. The highest detection (86.8%) of IgG was in the broodmares category, while the lowest (5.2%) was in foals of 0−6 months of age. Regarding the farms, the Farm 1 had the highest (67.4%) prevalence of seropositivity against L. intracellularis, while Farm 4 had the lowest (30.6%). There was no record of clinical manifestation of Equine Proliferative Enteropathy in the sampled animals. The results of this study show the high seroprevalence of L. intracellularis in Thoroughbred farms in the Southern of Rio Grande do Sul, suggesting a large and continuous exposure to the agent.