Epizootiological investigation of the most important infectious equine diseases in Greece

• Published in: Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics) Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 775 - 787
• Main Authors: Mangana-Vougiouka, O, Boutsini, S, Ntousi, D, Patakakis, M, Orfanou, E, Zafiropoulou, K, Dilaveris, D, Panagiotatos, D, Nomikou, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France 01-12-2013
• Subjects: Animals; Commerce; Communicable Diseases - epidemiology; Communicable Diseases - veterinary; Greece - epidemiology; Horse Diseases - epidemiology; Horses; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serologic Tests - veterinary; Greece
• ISSN: 0253-1933
• DOI: 10.20506/rst.32.2.2217

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.