Assessment of seroprevalence of equine arteritis virus infection in equestrian club horses of Urmia city using indirect ELISA

Abstract

Equine viral arteritis is a respiratory and reproductive disease of equines, which is caused by equine arteritis virus. Clinical signs include fever, anorexia, serous nasal discharge, congestion of the nasal mucosa, inter-mandibular lymphadenopathy, conjunctivitis, lacrimation, and less frequently, keratitis. Edema of the prepuce, scrotum, ventral midline, eyelids and limbs occurs because of necrotic vasculitis. Abortion may also occur if pregnant mares get infected. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of equine viral arteritis infection in equestrian club horses of Urmia city in relation to age, sex and breed. Sera from 64 horses (49 males and 15 females), aged 1-19 years, from four breeds of Kurdish, Arab, Turkman and crossbred were tested by indirect enzyme linked immunosrobent assay (iELISA) to detect specific antibodies against equine arteritis virus. The findings showed that 28.1% (95% CI: 17.1-39.1%) of samples 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. It was also indicated that gender, breed and age of horses influenced 1.601, 0.246 and 0.213% of infection fluctuations respectively. The results of the present study indicate relatively high seroprevalence of equine arteritis virus infection in equestrian club horses of Urmia city.

Keywords

• equine viral arteritis
• horse
• indirect elisa
• urmia.