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Home / Equine Research Bank / Jundishapur J Microbiol / Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. Infect...
Jundishapur journal of microbiology2015; 8(3); e14939; doi: 10.5812/jjm.14939

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. Infections in Arab Horses, Southwest of Iran.

Abstract: Because of the economic importance of the Arab race horses and also the role of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. in abortion and reproductive failure of these animals, we decided to perform this study. Objective: We designed this study to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies in Arab horses from 12 cities of Khuzestan province in southwest of Iran. Methods: From October 2009 to March 2011, a total of 235 blood samples were collected from jugular veins of Arab horses of different ages and genders from 12 cities of Khuzestan province. All the sera were tested for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies using the modified agglutination test (MAT) and the existence of anti-Neospora antibodies were tested using N-MAT for Neospora spp. Results: According to the MAT results, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 114 (48.5%) of 235 sera with titers of 1:20 in 84, 1:40 in 19, 1:80 in four, 1:160 in four, and 1:320 in three horses. According to the N-MAT results, antibodies to Neospora spp. were found in 47 (20%) of 235 sera with titers of 1:40 in 39, 1:80 in five, and 1:160 in three horses. We did not observe any statistically significant differences regarding age groups and genders between seropositive and seronegative horses for Neospora spp. using chi-square (χ(2)) test, but it seemed that anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were more prevalent in older horses (≥ 10 years old). Conclusions: The results indicated that Arab horses are exposed to these parasites in southwest of Iran. Further research is required to determine the genomic structures of these parasites in Arab horses in southwest of Iran.
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Publication Date: 2015-03-21 PubMed ID: 25834714PubMed Central: PMC4377174DOI: 10.5812/jjm.14939Google 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.

The research article broadly investigates the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. infections in Arab horses in the Khuzestan province in the southwest of Iran.

Research Objective

  • The aim of this study is to analyze the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies in Arab horses. The researchers undertook this study considering the economic significance of the Arab horses and the impact of T. gondii and Neospora spp. on the reproductive health of these animals.

Research Methods

  • Blood samples were collected from 235 Arab horses of varying ages and genders across 12 cities in the Khuzestan province, from October 2009 to March 2011.
  • These samples were tested for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT).
  • The presence of anti-Neospora antibodies was also analyzed using N-MAT for Neospora spp.

Research Findings

  • The Modified Agglutination Test results showed 48.5% seroprevalence of T. gondii with varying titers.
  • The N-MAT results discovered 20% seroprevalence of Neospora spp., again with different titers.
  • The gender and age of the horses did not significantly relate to the seroprevalence of Neospora spp. when analyzed using the chi-square test. However, the researchers observed a higher prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in older horses (10 years or above).

Conclusions

  • The high seroprevalence percentages suggest that Arab horses in the southwest of Iran are frequently exposed to T. gondii and Neospora spp.
  • Due to the significant prevalence, further research is required to understand the genomic structures of these parasites in Arab horses in this region.

Cite This Article

APA
Tavalla M, Sabaghan M, Abdizadeh R, Khademvatan S, Rafiei A, Razavi Piranshahi A. (2015). Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. Infections in Arab Horses, Southwest of Iran. Jundishapur J Microbiol, 8(3), e14939. https://doi.org/10.5812/jjm.14939

Publication

Jundishapur journal of microbiology
ISSN: 2008-3645
NlmUniqueID: 101515122
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Pages: e14939
PII: e14939

Researcher Affiliations

Tavalla, Mehdi
  • Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran ; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Sabaghan, Mohammad
  • Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Abdizadeh, Rahman
  • Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, IR Iran.
Khademvatan, Shahram
  • Department of Medical Parasitology, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, IR Iran.
Rafiei, Abdollah
  • Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran ; Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.
Razavi Piranshahi, Anahita
  • Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 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).
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  2. Khamesipour F, Taktaz-Hafshejani T, Tebit KE, Razavi SM, Hosseini SR. Prevalence of endo- and ecto-parasites of equines in Iran: A systematic review.. Vet Med Sci 2021 Jan;7(1):25-34.
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  3. 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.
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