Tick-Borne Profile for horses

The distribution area of ticks is continuously increasing due to global warming. Consequently, tick-borne diseases such as anaplasmosis, borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) occur more frequently in horses as well.

Primary symptoms in equine borreliosis may include lethargy, inappetence and fever. Lameness caused by myositis or arthritis, enlargement of lymph nodes, neurological problems, kidney or heart damage can follow.

Clinical symptoms of equine anaplasmosis include high fever, depression, partial anorexia, oedema of the limbs, icterus, ataxia and reluctance towards physical activity.

Symptoms of equine TBE infection include a poor general condition, increased body temperature, poor appetite, weight loss, nervousness, anxiety, capriciousness, ataxia and cramps.

Anaplasmosis, borreliosis and infections with TBE virus in horses are often characterised by unspecific and very similar symptoms. Differential diagnostics should therefore include all three diseases. Coinfections may also occur.

Direct detection of Borrelia using PCR or cultivation is reliable only in tissue samples, but not in blood samples. For direct detection of A. phagocytophilum, staining of a blood smear, cultivation or PCR are available. The sensitivity of direct detection strongly depends on the phase of infection. Therefore, serological detection of antibodies is the method of choice for laboratory diagnosis of borreliosis and anaplasmosis. TBE virus can be detected directly by means of PCR (during the viraemic phase) or indirectly using ELISA.

• EUROLINE Tick-Borne Profile 1 Horse (IgG)