Al-Rammahi Hayder Mohammad, Mohsen Rahman Kadhum, Othman Rasha Monther
Department of Internal and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Basrah University, Basrah, Iraq.
Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Basrah University, Basrah, Iraq.
Open Vet J. 2025 May;15(5):2016-2020. doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i5.17. Epub 2025 May 31.
West Nile virus (WNV) circulates between birds and mosquitoes, with horses and humans as incidental dead-end hosts. Despite documented cases in neighboring countries and human cases in southern Iraq, no previous studies have investigated WNV in Iraqi horses.
To determine the seroprevalence of WNV in horses from three southern Iraqi governorates (Thi-Qar, Misan, and Basrah) between March and June 2024.
Blood samples were collected from 236 horses regardless of age, sex, or health status. Serum samples were analyzed using commercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits to detect specific anti-Pr E IgG and IgM antibodies.
The overall IgG seropositivity rate was 30.08%, with similar rates reported for Misan (30.66%), Basrah (30.12%), and Thi-Qar (29.48%). IgM seropositivity was 11.86% overall, with 14.67%, 7.22%, and 14.1% in Misan, Basrah, and Thi-Qar, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed among governorates ( > 0.05). Females had a slightly increased positivity rate (42.7%) when placed alongside males (38%), and with respect to age, the positivity rates for three distinct age categories: 1 to 2 years (no.64), 2 to 5 years (no.135), and above 5 years (no.37) were recorded as 45.31%, 41.48%, and 37.83%, respectively.
This is the first study to demonstrate WNV seropositivity in Iraqi horses, revealing active virus circulation in southern Iraq, particularly in marshland areas suitable for mosquito vectors and migratory birds. The findings highlight the need for surveillance programs and preventive measures to control WNV transmission throughout the region.
西尼罗河病毒（WNV）在鸟类和蚊子之间传播，马和人类是偶然的终末宿主。尽管邻国已有相关病例记录，伊拉克南部也有人类感染病例，但此前尚无研究对伊拉克马匹中的西尼罗河病毒进行调查。
确定2024年3月至6月期间伊拉克南部三个省份（济加尔省、米桑省和巴士拉省）马匹中WNV的血清阳性率。
采集236匹马的血样，不考虑年龄、性别或健康状况。使用商业竞争酶联免疫吸附测定试剂盒分析血清样本，以检测特异性抗前膜蛋白E IgG和IgM抗体。
总体IgG血清阳性率为30.08%，米桑省（30.66%）、巴士拉省（30.12%）和济加尔省（29.48%）的阳性率相近。总体IgM血清阳性率为11.86%，米桑省、巴士拉省和济加尔省的阳性率分别为14.67%、7.22%和14.1%。各省之间未观察到统计学显著差异（>0.05）。雌性的阳性率（42.7%）略高于雄性（38%），按年龄划分，三个不同年龄组：1至2岁（64匹）、2至5岁（135匹）和5岁以上（37匹）的阳性率分别为45.31%、41.48%和37.83%。
这是第一项证明伊拉克马匹中WNV血清阳性的研究，揭示了伊拉克南部存在活跃的病毒传播，特别是在适合蚊子媒介和候鸟生存的沼泽地区。研究结果强调了在整个地区开展监测计划和采取预防措施以控制WNV传播的必要性。
