Age, gender and climate associations with the seroprevalence of Neospora species infection in horses in Jordan.

The research investigates the prevalence and factors influencing Neospora species infection in horses in Jordan. It concluded that factors such as location, climate, age, and gender play a role in the seroprevalence of the infection, with a higher prevalence in cool temperate climates, horses older than 14 years, and female horses.

Research Methodology

• The study is based on a sample of 379 horses from Jordan.
• The researchers performed an indirect fluorescent antibody test to determine the presence of Neospora spp., a protozoan parasite that causes neosporosis in animals.
• Five variables: locality, climatic zone, age group, gender, and breed of the horses, were examined as potential risk factors for Neospora-immunoglobulin (Ig)G seropositivity.
• The evaluation was conducted at four different cutoff titers (1:50, 1:200, 1:400, 1:800) to measure the level of antibodies in blood serum.
• The association between these variables and Neospora-IgG seropositivity was studied using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Research Findings

• Out of the total, 32% (122) of the horses were found to have anti-Neospora-IgG at a cutoff titer of 1:50.
• Horses from three localities – Madaba, Zarka, and Petra – showed increased Neospora-IgG seropositivity.
• A cool temperate climate, horses aged more than 14 years, and female gender were associated with an increase in seropositivity.
• Regarding specific titer cutoffs, horses from Madaba were seropositive at all titers, those from Zarka at titers greater than 1:200, and Petra at titers less than 1:200. Additionally, cool temperate climate was related to titers less than 1:400.
• Horses aged over 14 years showed seropositivity at titers equal to or greater than 1:200. Female gender, on the other hand, was associated with high seropositivity at more than 1:800 titer level.