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

Abstract

<jats:p>Abstract A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of 379 horses to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora spp. in Jordan using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. Five variables, namely locality (n=10), climatic zone (n=4), age group (n=3), gender, and breed were tested as risk factors for Neospora–immunoglobulin (Ig)G seropositivity at four cutoff titers (1:50, 1:200, 1:400, and 1:800) using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. A total of 122 (32%; 95% CI: 28, 37) sera samples had anti-Neospora–IgG at a cutoff titer of 1:50. Increased Neospora–IgG seropositivity was found in horses in three localities (Madaba, Zarka, and Petra) and was associated with the following variables: cool temperate climate; age &gt;14 years; and female gender. Seropositivity was found among horses from Madaba at all cutoff titers, Zarka at titers &gt;1:200, and Petra at titers &lt;1:200. Cool temperate climate was associated with titers &lt;1:400. Horses aged &gt;14 years were found to be associated with seropositivity at titers ≥1:200. Female gender was associated with high seropositivity at &gt;1:800.</jats:p>

Seroprevalences of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infections in Jordanian women who had a recent spontaneous abortion

“…For example, an association between N. caninum seropositivity and climate was found in livestock, in Europe (Julvez et al, 1994;Rinaldi et al, 2005). In Jordan, which encompasses six climatic zones and a high seroprevalence of Neospora spp., only the cool temperate rainy climatic zone was associated with reduced small ruminant flock-level seroprevalence of N. caninum (Abo-Shehada & Abu-Halaweh, 2010) and with horse titers <1/400 (Abu-Halaweh et al, 2020).…”

“…In Jordan, N. caninum seroprevalences have been reported in sheep, goats (Abo-Shehada & Abu-Halaweh, 2010) and cattle (Talafha & Al-Majali, 2013) and Neospora spp. seroprevalence has been reported in horses (Talafha et al, 2015;Abu-Halaweh et al, 2020) at high rates.…”