Talafha Abdelsalam Q, Al-Majali Ahmad M, Ababneh Mohammad M, Abutarbush Sameeh M
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, 22110, Jordan,
Parasitol Res. 2015 Jul;114(7):2491-7. doi: 10.1007/s00436-015-4448-5. Epub 2015 Apr 7.
Besnoitia besnoiti is an apicomplexan parasite and the causative agent of bovine besnoitiosis which is considered as a re-emergent disease in Europe. A cross-sectional serological study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and to identify risk factors associated with B. besnoiti infection in 68 dairy herds (n = 806 cows) in Jordan during the period from January to June 2007 and the spring of 2014. Data regarding herd's management was obtained by filling questionnaires through personal interviews with farmers. An indirect ELISA test was used to detect antibodies against B. besnoiti. Chi-square analysis and multivariable logistic regression model were used to identify risk factors associated with seropositivity to B. besnoiti. At the individual cow and herd level, the true prevalence of seropositive animals was 6 and 28.7 %, respectively. Cows between 2 and 6 years of age had significantly higher seroprevalence of B. besnoiti than other age groups. The highest seroprevalence of B. besnoiti was found in Zarqa and Irbid governorates. Multivariable logistic regression model identified that exchanging visits by farm workers to neighboring farms as a risk factor for seropositivity to B. besnoiti, while smaller herd size and twice a day farm cleaning using sweeping and water hosing were identified as protective factors. This is the first study that investigated the seroprevalence of B. besnoiti infection in dairy herds in Jordan. Further studies are warranted to explore the clinical manifestation of B. besnoiti infection as well as to identify the possible presence of other Besnoitia species and definitive hosts for the parasite.
贝氏贝诺孢子虫是一种顶复门寄生虫，也是牛贝诺孢子虫病的病原体，该病在欧洲被视为一种再度出现的疾病。2007年1月至6月以及2014年春季期间，在约旦对68个奶牛场（n = 806头奶牛）进行了一项横断面血清学研究，以确定血清阳性率，并识别与贝氏贝诺孢子虫感染相关的风险因素。通过与农民进行个人访谈填写问卷来获取有关牛群管理的数据。采用间接ELISA试验检测抗贝氏贝诺孢子虫的抗体。使用卡方分析和多变量逻辑回归模型来识别与贝氏贝诺孢子虫血清阳性相关的风险因素。在个体奶牛和牛群水平上，血清阳性动物的实际患病率分别为6%和28.7%。2至6岁的奶牛贝氏贝诺孢子虫血清阳性率显著高于其他年龄组。贝氏贝诺孢子虫血清阳性率最高的地区是扎尔卡省和伊尔比德省。多变量逻辑回归模型确定，农场工人到邻近农场的互访是贝氏贝诺孢子虫血清阳性的一个风险因素，而较小的牛群规模以及每天两次使用清扫和水冲进行农场清洁则被确定为保护因素。这是第一项调查约旦奶牛场贝氏贝诺孢子虫感染血清阳性率的研究。有必要进一步开展研究，以探索贝氏贝诺孢子虫感染的临床表现，以及确定是否可能存在其他贝诺孢子虫物种和该寄生虫的终末宿主。
