Assessment of seroprevalence of equine viral arteritis in club horses of Urmia using indirect ELISA

Fariba Rezaie Badrash ¹ (Graduate of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran.)
Arash Araghi-Sooreh ² (Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran.)

Submited date : 2023-01-28 accepted date : 2023-10-09

Keywords: horse, Elisa, Urmia, Equine viral arteritis,

Abstract :

Equine viral arteritis is a respiratory and reproductive disease of equides. Clinical signs include a fever, anorexia, serous nasal discharge, congestion of the nasal mucosa, intermandibular lymphadenopathy, conjunctivitis, lacrimation, and less frequently, keratitis. Edema of the sheath, scrotum, ventral midline, eyelids and limbs occurs as well as because of necrotic vasculitis. Abortion also may occur if pregnant mares get infected. This study was aimed to determine the seroprevalence rate of equine viral arteritis in club horses of Urmia in relation to age, sex and breed. Sera from 64 horses (49 males and 15 females), aged 1-19 years, of four breeds-kurd, Arab, Turkman and crossbred were tested by indirect enzyme linked immunosrobent assay (iELISA) to detect specific antibodies of equine arteritis virus. Overall, 28.1% (95% CI: 17.1-39.1%) of horses were seropositive, 54.7% (95% CI: 42.5-66.9%) were negative and 17.2% (95% CI: 8.0-26.4%) were found to be doubtful. Seropositivity was significantly affected by sex (p= 0.013). Based on regression analysis odds of infection in females compared males was 4.957 (95% CI: 1.365-18.009%). Sex, breed and age of horses explained 1.601, 0.246 and 0.213% of infection’s fluctuations, respectively. The results indicate relatively high seroprevalence of equine viral arteritis in club horses of Urmia.