Clinical and epidemiological aspects of the infection by Babesia, Theileria and Trypanosoma species in horses from northeastern Colombia.

Piroplasmosis and trypanosomiasis are debilitating diseases of great economic impact on the equine industry of Latin America. Considering the lack of studies in the northeastern part of Colombia, this study aimed to determine the epidemiological, clinical and genetic features associated with infection of the Babesia, Theileria, and Trypanosoma species in horses from this geographical area. Two hundred and eighty horses from the Arauca, Meta, and Santander departments were molecularly analyzed for infection with Babesia caballi, Theileria equi, Trypanosoma evansi, and Trypanosoma vivax. Furthermore, clinical, epidemiological and entomological analyses were performed on the data sets. Molecular analysis showed 25.7% and 3.9% prevalence for T. equi and T. evansi, respectively, without positive animals for B. caballi and T. vivax. There were no differences in the prevalence of T. equi between departments, whereas T. evansi was detected exclusively in Santander. A total of 633 ticks were collected from 72 horses across the three departments, with 84.7% corresponding to Dermacentor nitens, 10.9% to Amblyomma cajennense (sensu lato) (s.l). and 4.4% to Rhipicephalus microplus. For T. equi, genetic analyses showed that Colombian isolates belong to genotype C of species, along with sequences of Brazil and Mexico. Epidemiological analysis revealed a significant association between tick infestation and lack of vector control with molecular infection of T. equi, whereas clinical analysis revealed a significant reduction in packed cell volume, red blood cells, and mean corpuscular volume in positive animals to this pathogen. Furthermore, molecular infection by T. evansi was associated with epidemiological characteristics in the Santander department. In conclusion, our analysis revealed a moderate infection rate by T. equi of genotype C in horses from northeastern Colombia, which affects their clinical conditions. Control of ticks and treatment of symptomatic animals should be considered to reduce the economic impact associated with these infections in the equine industry.

Morfometría macroscópica del ovario y cuerpo lúteo de yeguas criollas de Colombia / Macroscopic Morphometry of the Ovary and Corpus Luteum of Native Mares in Colombia / Morfometria macroscópica do ovário e corpo lúteo de éguas criollas da Colômbia

El objetivo del presente estudio era realizar una descripción de parámetros morfométricos del ovario y cuerpo lúteo (CL) de yeguas criollas de Colombia. Se utilizaron cincuenta ovarios provenientes de yeguas adultas. Todos los animales se encontraban clínicamente sanos. Los tejidos se obtuvieron después del sacrificio y se fijaron inmediatamente en formalina tamponada. Se pesó y se midió el diámetro mayor y el menor del ovario. Se realizó una incisión longitudinal con la finalidad de observar el parénquima del órgano. Se removió el CL y se registró su peso y diámetro. Los datos se analizaron a través de estadística descriptiva y el grado de asociación de las variables se calculó a través de un modelo de regresión simple. Se transformaron los datos con logaritmo en base natural cuando se requirió. El diámetro mayor del ovario varió desde 2 hasta 6,2 cm. El diámetro del CL varió desde 1,1 hasta 3,6 cm. Se encontró una relación lineal entre el peso y el diámetro del ovario (R² = 0,41; p < 0,01) y entre el peso y el diámetro del CL (R² = 0,48; p < 0,01). Aunque la relación entre el peso del ovario y el cuerpo lúteo es lineal, el coeficiente de determinación fue muy bajo. La yegua criolla colombiana tiene características similares en la morfología ovárica y luteal a las reportadas en la literatura para yeguas de otras razas livianas. Los valores aquí reportados podrían ser el punto de partida para establecer valores de referencia de utilidad clínica.

The purpose of this study was to describe the morphometric parameters of the ovary and corpus luteum (CL) of native mares in Colombia. Fifty ovaries from adult mares were used. All animals were clinically healthy. The tissues were collected after slaughter and immediately fixed in buffered formalin. The large and small diameters of the ovary were weighted and measured. A longitudinal incision was made in order to observe organ parenchyma. The CL was removed and its weight and diameter were recorded. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, and the degree of association between the variables was calculated through a simple regression model. When required, data were transformed with natural base logarithm. The large diameter of the ovary ranged from 2 to 6.2 cm. The diameter of the CL ranged from 1.1 to 3.6 cm. A linear relationship was found between the weight and diameter of the ovary (R² = 0.41; p < 0.01) and between the weight and diameter of the CL (R² = 0.48; p < 0.01). On the other hand, although the relationship between the weight of the ovary and corpus luteum is linear, the determination coefficient was very low. Luteal and ovarian morphology of native mares in Colombia has similar characteristics to those reported in literature for other light breed mares. The values reported herein could be the starting point to establish reference values for clinical utility.

O objetivo do presente estudo era realizar uma descrição de parâmetros morfométricos do ovário e corpo lúteo (CL) de éguas criollas da Colômbia. Utilizaram-se cinquenta ovários provenientes de éguas adultas. Todos os animais se encontravam clinicamente saudáveis. Os tecidos foram obtidos depois do sacrifício e se fixaram imediatamente em formalina tamponada. Foi pesado e medido o diâmetro maior e o menor do ovário. Realizou-se uma incisão longitudinal com a finalidade de observar o parênquima do órgão. Removeu-se o CL e se registrou seu peso e diâmetro. Os dados se analisaram com estatística descritiva, e o grau de associação das variáveis se calculou através de um modelo de regressão simples. Transformaram-se os dados com logaritmo em base natural quando se requerido. O diâmetro maior do ovário variou desde 2 até 6,2 cm. O diâmetro do CL variou desde 1,1 até 3,6 cm. Encontrouse uma relação linear entre o peso e o diâmetro do ovário (R² = 0,41; p < 0,01) e entre o peso e o diâmetro do CL (R² = 0,48; p < 0,01). Enquanto que, ainda sendo linear a relação entre o peso do ovário e o corpo lúteo, o coeficiente de determinação foi muito baixo. A égua criolla colombiana tem características similares na morfologia ovárica e lútea a as relatadas na literatura para éguas de outras raças leves. Os valores aqui reportados poderiam ser o ponto de partida para estabelecer valores de referencia de utilidade clínica.