Epizootiological investigation of the most important infectious equine diseases in Greece.

Abstract

During the period 2001 to 2008, a total of 7,872 equine sera were tested at the Centre of Veterinary Institutes of Athens. Antibodies against seven infectious diseases of equids were determined: equine infectious anaemia (EIA), African horse sickness (AHS), equine viral arteritis (EVA), West Nile encephalitis (WNE), glanders, piroplasmosis and dourine. Tests for the four viral diseases found 4.5% seropositivity for EIA, 0% for AHS, 3.3% for EVA and 4% for WNE. All sera tested for glanders antibodies were negative. Tests for piroplasmosis detected antibodies against T. equi and B. caballi in 12.9% and 1.3% of the sera, respectively. No sample tested positive for dourine. The results of this epidemiological survey provide strong evidence that Greece is free from the diseases of AHS, glanders and dourine.

• Authors: O Mangana-Vougiouka, S Boutsini, D Ntousi, M Patakakis, E Orfanou, K Zafiropoulou, D Dilaveris, D Panagiotatos, K Nomikou
• Journal: Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics) (Rev Sci Tech) Vol. 32 Issue 3 Pg. 775-87 (Dec 2013) ISSN: 0253-1933 [Print] France
• PMID: 24761730 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Animals
• Commerce
• Communicable Diseases (epidemiology, veterinary)
• Greece (epidemiology)
• Horse Diseases (epidemiology)
• Horses
• Seroepidemiologic Studies
• Serologic Tests (veterinary)