Publication: An initial survey of 150 horses from Thailand for anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies
Issued Date
2021-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
17730449
11565233
11565233
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85097400205
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Medical Mycology. Vol.31, No.1 (2021)
Suggested Citation
Z. Mar Htun, A. Laikul, W. Pathomsakulwong, C. Yurayart, T. Lohnoo, W. Yingyong, Y. Kumsang, P. Payattikul, P. Sae-Chew, T. Rujirawat, C. Jaturapaktrarak, P. Chongtrakool, T. Krajaejun An initial survey of 150 horses from Thailand for anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies. Journal of Medical Mycology. Vol.31, No.1 (2021). doi:10.1016/j.mycmed.2020.101085 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/78424
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
An initial survey of 150 horses from Thailand for anti-Pythium insidiosum antibodies
Abstract
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.