Uncovering the hidden threat of Besnoitia besnoiti through advanced ELISA testing in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia
Imagine you're a cattle farmer in rural Turkey. Your animals appear healthy, grazing peacefully across the vast landscapes of Eastern Anatolia. Yet beneath this tranquil surface, a silent threat might be spreading—one you can't see and may not detect until it's too late.
Bovine besnoitiosis is often called "elephant skin disease" for the thickened, wrinkled skin that appears in chronically infected animals 7 . But this visible symptom only tells part of the story.
Shortly after infection, the parasite multiplies rapidly as tachyzoites, primarily targeting blood vessel linings . Animals may show non-specific symptoms or none at all 7 .
The parasite forms microscopic cysts in connective tissues under the skin and in various organs . Visible signs like skin thickening and cysts in the eyes may appear 7 .
In 2015-2016, researchers launched the first systematic study to determine whether Besnoitia besnoiti had reached cattle in Turkey's Eastern and Southeastern Anatolian regions 1 .
450 blood samples from apparently healthy cattle across four provinces
Using PrioCHECK® Besnoitia Ab 2.0 ELISA kit for testing
Evaluating factors like age, gender, and location
All 12 seropositive animals were asymptomatic, highlighting the crucial role of serological testing in detecting hidden infections 1 .
Diagnosing besnoitiosis has evolved significantly from relying solely on visible symptoms. Today's researchers have an array of sophisticated tools at their disposal.
| Method | What It Detects | Application | Advantages |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELISA (Blood) | Antibodies against B. besnoiti in serum | Seroprevalence studies; screening apparently healthy animals | High throughput; identifies subclinical infections 1 |
| ELISA (Milk) | Antibodies against B. besnoiti in milk | Screening dairy herds using bulk tank milk | Less invasive; convenient for monitoring 3 |
| PCR | Parasite DNA in blood or skin biopsies | Confirming active infection; detecting parasites in asymptomatic cattle | Direct parasite detection; high specificity 2 |
| Tissue Cyst Microscopy | Visible cysts in skin biopsies | Diagnosing clinical cases in chronic stage | Direct visualization of parasite |
| Western Blot | Specific antibody patterns | Confirmatory testing for positive ELISA results | High specificity; reduces false positives 8 |
Blood samples are collected from cattle
Blood is centrifuged to separate serum
ELISA kit detects specific antibodies against B. besnoiti
Optical density measurements determine positive/negative results
The Turkish study's findings extend far beyond the specific percentages reported. The discovery of asymptomatic but infected cattle reveals an invisible reservoir of the parasite that could facilitate its silent spread to new areas 1 .
This is particularly concerning given that the disease is considered re-emerging in Europe, with increasing cases and geographical distribution 1 .
The higher prevalence in older animals suggests that longer exposure time increases infection risk, possibly through repeated encounters with blood-sucking insects 7 .
Recent research from neighboring Iraq found much higher infection rates (16.09% in blood samples) using molecular methods, suggesting the problem might be more extensive than initially thought 2 .
The 2019 Turkish study represents a crucial step in understanding and combating bovine besnoitiosis. By employing sophisticated ELISA testing, researchers uncovered evidence of a silent spread of this parasite through apparently healthy cattle populations—a discovery that traditional observation methods would have missed.
Proactive surveillance is essential for effective disease control
Identify infected animals before symptoms appear
This work underscores a critical lesson in modern veterinary science: what we can't see can indeed hurt us. The asymptomatic nature of many infections makes proactive surveillance essential for effective disease control 1 .