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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Parasitol / Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in horses in R...
The Journal of parasitology2011; 97(5); 943-945; doi: 10.1645/GE-2677.1

Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in horses in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses used for sporting purposes in the Province of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In total, 266 serum samples from clinically healthy horses were analyzed for anti- T. gondii antibodies using the Sabin-Feldman dye test. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 84 (31.6%) horses, with specific titers of 1∶16 (78 with a prevalence of 29.3%), 1∶64 (4 with a prevalence of 1.5%), and 1∶256 (2 with a prevalence of 0.8%). The number of seropositive horses in Shaqra (43.7%) was considerably higher than in other regions, with the lowest occurring in Al-Majmaah (11.0%). However, the differences in seroprevalence between the 6 locations were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In contrast, the overall seroprevalence in Riyadh province was higher than that reported in other countries. Horses are not a direct source of infection for human toxoplasmosis in this region. Usually human infection is facilitated via cats, which are the reservoir hosts for this parasite.
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Publication Date: 2011-03-11 PubMed ID: 21506811DOI: 10.1645/GE-2677.1Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article examines the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, a common parasite, in horses in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, finding that nearly one third of the horses examined carry the antibodies.

Objective of the Study

  • The sole aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence, that is, the level of a pathogen in a population as measured in blood serum, of Toxoplasma gondii in horses used for sports in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia.

Methods Used

  • A total of 266 serum samples were taken from clinically healthy horses.
  • The samples were then analyzed for T. gondii antibodies using a specific method called the Sabin-Feldman dye test.

Findings of the Study

  • The study found that out of the 266 samples, 84 horses (31.6%) carried T. gondii antibodies.
  • The antibody titers varied between 1∶16, 1∶64, and 1∶256, indicating the ratio of the dilution at which the antibodies can still be detected.
  • The number of seropositive horses (those testing positive for the antibody) was notably higher in Shaqra (43.7%) compared to other regions in the province, with the lowest in Al-Majmaah (11.0%).
  • However, these variations in seroprevalence among the six locations were found to be statistically insignificant.

Comparison with Other Regions

  • Despite these regional variations, the total seroprevalence in Riyadh province was higher than in other countries.

Implications for Humans

  • Even though horses in Riyadh were found to carry T. gondii antibodies, they are not a direct source of toxoplasmosis infection in humans, which is commonly facilitated via cats, the natural hosts for this parasite.

Cite This Article

APA
Alanazi AD, Alyousif MS. (2011). Prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in horses in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia. J Parasitol, 97(5), 943-945. https://doi.org/10.1645/GE-2677.1

Publication

The Journal of parasitology
ISSN: 1937-2345
NlmUniqueID: 7803124
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 97
Issue: 5
Pages: 943-945

Researcher Affiliations

Alanazi, Abdulah D
  • Department of Quality Inspection, Ministry of Commerce, P.O. Box 122331, Riyadh 11721, Saudi Arabia.
Alyousif, Mohamed S

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
    • Female
    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
    • Horse Diseases / parasitology
    • Horses
    • Male
    • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
    • Seroepidemiologic Studies
    • Toxoplasma / immunology
    • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology
    • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / parasitology

    Citations

    This article has been cited 10 times.
    1. Marzok M, Al-Jabr OA, Salem M, Alkashif K, Sayed-Ahmed M, Wakid MH, Kandeel M, Selim A. Seroprevalence and Risk Factors for Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Horses.. Vet Sci 2023 Mar 22;10(3).
      doi: 10.3390/vetsci10030237pubmed: 36977276google scholar: lookup
    2. Abdelgadier A, Assaad N, Elhussein Z, Al-Marri AM, Suliman S, Eltom K, Al-Mslemani EA, Al-Zeyara AA, Hussein ARME, Enan KA. Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in animals of the Arabian Peninsula between 2000-2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis.. Vet Med Sci 2023 Jan;9(1):471-480.
      doi: 10.1002/vms3.1004pubmed: 36408778google scholar: lookup
    3. Akter R, Legione A, Sansom FM, El-Hage CM, Hartley CA, Gilkerson JR, Devlin JM. Detection of Coxiella burnetii and equine herpesvirus 1, but not Leptospira spp. or Toxoplasma gondii, in cases of equine abortion in Australia - a 25 year retrospective study.. PLoS One 2020;15(5):e0233100.
      doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233100pubmed: 32453753google scholar: lookup
    4. Stelzer S, Basso W, Benavides Silván J, Ortega-Mora LM, Maksimov P, Gethmann J, Conraths FJ, Schares G. Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in farm animals: Risk factors and economic impact.. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2019 Jun;15:e00037.
      doi: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2019.e00037pubmed: 32095611google scholar: lookup
    5. Ouslimani SF, Tennah S, Azzag N, Derdour SY, China B, Ghalmi F. Seroepidemiological study of the exposure to Toxoplasma gondii among horses in Algeria and analysis of risk factors.. Vet World 2019 Dec;12(12):2007-2016.
      doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2019.2007-2016pubmed: 32095054google scholar: lookup
    6. Abdalhamed AM, Hassanain MA, Zeedan GSG, Shaapan RM. Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii propagated in specific pathogen free embryonated chicken egg, for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in equids and human.. J Parasit Dis 2019 Sep;43(3):498-505.
      doi: 10.1007/s12639-019-01117-3pubmed: 31406416google scholar: lookup
    7. Razmi GR, Abedi V, Yaghfoori S. Serological study of Toxoplasma gondii infection in Turkoman horses in the North Khorasan Province, Iran.. J Parasit Dis 2016 Jun;40(2):515-9.
      doi: 10.1007/s12639-014-0536-1pubmed: 27413330google scholar: lookup
    8. Aroussi A, Vignoles P, Dalmay F, Wimel L, Dardé ML, Mercier A, Ajzenberg D. Detection of Toxoplasma gondii DNA in horse meat from supermarkets in France and performance evaluation of two serological tests.. Parasite 2015;22:14.
      doi: 10.1051/parasite/2015014pubmed: 25809058google scholar: lookup
    9. Miao Q, Wang X, She LN, Fan YT, Yuan FZ, Yang JF, Zhu XQ, Zou FC. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses and donkeys in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China.. Parasit Vectors 2013 Jun 6;6:168.
      doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-168pubmed: 23742078google scholar: lookup
    10. Yang N, Mu MY, Yuan GM, Zhang GX, Li HK, He JB. Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in slaughtered horses and donkeys in Liaoning province, northeastern China.. Parasit Vectors 2013 May 16;6:140.
      doi: 10.1186/1756-3305-6-140pubmed: 23680297google scholar: lookup
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