Seroprevalence of antibotulinum neurotoxin type C antibodies in horses in Israel.

The research aimed to determine the prevalence of specific anti-Botulinum Neurotoxin type C (anti-BoNT/C) antibodies in horses in Israel and assess the influence of horse-level and farm-level variables on this prevalence.

Study Objective and Methodology

• The principal objective of the study was to ascertain the seroprevalence of anti-BoNT/C antibodies in horses in Israel. A secondary objective was to find out if age, breed and gender of the horses, or the geographical location of the farms are potential risk factors for exposure to Botulinum Neurotoxin type C (BoNT/C).
• To meet the study’s objectives, serum samples were collected from 198 horses. The presence and level of anti-BoNT/C antibodies in these samples were then identified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
• The researchers then created indicator variables for each categorical variable (e.g., breed, gender, geographical location) and calculated the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for the outcome variable using univariable and multivariable logistic regression models.

Key Findings

• The study found that 61 out of 198 tested horses (30.8%) were positive for anti-BoNT/C IgG antibodies according to the ELISA test, indicating the presence of these antibodies in a significant proportion of horses in Israel.
• It was determined that the geographical location of the farm and farm-level variables were significantly associated with this seropositivity.
• Among horse-level variables, gender and breed turned out to be significant factors. Specifically, Quarter Horses and Warmblood mares located in the southern region of Israel had the highest odds of testing positive for anti-BoNT/C IgG antibodies.

Conclusions and Further Research

• The research concluded that certain farm-level and horse-level risk factors for exposure to BoNT/C corroborate with previously reported risk factors for Equine Grass Sickness (EGS).
• However, EGS itself has not been reported in Israel. Therefore, the research suggests that further studies are required to identify the predisposing factors that cause EGS.