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Study of Trichinella spp. Seroprevalence in Horse Population of West Azerbaijan, Northwestern Iran.
Abstract: We aimed to determine the seroprevalence of in horses in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran a region known for its wildlife interactions. Unassigned: The study was conducted in March 2016 across four cities in West Azerbaijan: Urmia, Chaldoran, Sardasht, and Khoy, Iran. A total of 184 equines, ranging from three to over ten years of age, were randomly sampled. Blood samples were collected and were analyzed using the ID Screen® Indirect Multi-species ELISA to detect antibodies. Unassigned: Of the 184 serum samples, 4 (4.3%) from northern counties and 2 (2.2%) from southern counties tested positive for trichinellosis. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests indicated no significant correlations between age, gender, or residential location and disease prevalence. The logistic regression model was not statistically significant ( = 0.754), revealing that these demographic factors do not substantially influence trichinellosis risk in the studied equines. Unassigned: This study provides crucial insights into the low seroprevalence of in horses in West Azerbaijan, suggesting that equines may not be primary reservoirs of the parasite despite overlapping habitats with infected wildlife.
© 2025 Pirkani et al. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
Publication Date: 2025-04-10 PubMed ID: 40206363PubMed Central: PMC11978216DOI: 10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18112Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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Overview
- This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Trichinella infection in horses in West Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran, by analyzing blood samples for antibodies.
- The findings revealed a low seroprevalence of Trichinella antibodies in the equine population, suggesting horses are unlikely primary reservoirs of the parasite in this region.
Background and Objective
- Trichinella spp. is a parasitic nematode causing trichinellosis, a zoonotic disease often transmitted via consumption of infected meat.
- Wildlife in West Azerbaijan, Iran, has known interactions with livestock, raising the question of whether horses in the region might carry Trichinella.
- The study’s purpose was to assess the seroprevalence (presence of antibodies indicating exposure) to Trichinella in horses from this province.
Study Design and Methods
- Timeframe: March 2016.
- Locations: Four cities in West Azerbaijan – Urmia, Chaldoran, Sardasht, and Khoy, representing northern and southern county areas.
- Sample size: 184 horses, randomly selected, with ages ranging from 3 to over 10 years.
- Blood collection: Blood samples were drawn from each horse for serological analysis.
- Serological testing: The ID Screen® Indirect Multi-species ELISA was employed to detect antibodies against Trichinella spp., indicating previous or current exposure to the parasite.
Results
- Out of 184 samples, 6 tested positive for Trichinella antibodies: 4 in northern counties (~4.3%) and 2 in southern counties (~2.2%).
- Statistical tests (Chi-square and Fisher’s exact) showed no significant relationship between seropositivity and:
- Age of the horses
- Gender
- Residential location within sampled areas
- Logistic regression analysis also confirmed that demographic factors did not meaningfully predict the risk of trichinellosis infection (p-value = 0.754).
Interpretation and Conclusions
- The low seroprevalence suggests limited exposure of horses to Trichinella spp. despite their geographic overlap with infected wildlife reservoirs.
- Horses in this region are unlikely to serve as a significant reservoir or vector for transmission of Trichinella to other animals or humans.
- The findings aid in understanding disease ecology in West Azerbaijan and inform veterinary and public health surveillance strategies.
- Further research may focus on other domestic species or wildlife to better map the transmission dynamics of Trichinella spp. in this area.
Cite This Article
APA
Pirkani Z, Araghi-Sooreh A, Kamalinejad F.
(2025).
Study of Trichinella spp. Seroprevalence in Horse Population of West Azerbaijan, Northwestern Iran.
Iran J Parasitol, 20(1), 122-129.
https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v20i1.18112 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Branch Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests.
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