Supplemental Data for: Molecular identification of vector-borne organisms in Ehrlichia seropositive Nicaraguan horses and first report of Rickettsia felis infection in the horse"
Description
Certain vector-borne organisms serve as etiological agents of equine disease, affecting not only the health of horses but also the economic wellbeing of their owners. Horses in Mérida, Nicaragua experience high exposure to ticks and other arthropod vectors. After previously identifying a new Ehrlichia species in horses from Mérida, our study aimed to determine the infection frequency and screen for a wide range of vector-borne organisms from 93 tick-exposed, Ehrlichia seropositive horses in this region. PCR assays (genus and species-specific) were performed on DNA extracted from equine whole blood samples to identify infection by vector-borne organisms within the following genera: Anaplasma, Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, Leishmania, Mycoplasma, Neorickettsia, Rickettsia and Theileria.