Prevalence of bovine besnoitiosis in Mosul city, Iraq
2025
Maab I. Al-Farwachi | Hadeel A. Mohammad | Israa A. Al-Robaiee
Besnoitia besnoiti (Bb)has become an important cause of severe commercial losses in endemic zones globally. The seroprevalence of this organism in Iraq is underreported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of bovine besnoitiosis (BB) in Mosul city, Iraq. A cross-sectional study was done from April 2024 to February 2025 on 20 farms. A total of 300 sera were collected from animals aged 1 to 7 years and examined using a commercially available indirect enzyme immune sorbent assay (ELISA). The probable risk factors investigated were age, sex, breed origin, herd size, and season. The overall prevalence of BB was 23% (69/300; 95% Confidence interval (CI)= 17.9 to 29.1). During spring, older animals (≥ 5 years old) and herds with imported breeds showed greater seroprevalences of antibodies against Bb, whereas a lower prevalence rate in animals with ≤ 1 year old. Univariable analysis showed that cattle aged ≥5 years, imported breeds, and those sampled in spring were significantly more likely to be seropositive. In a multivariable regression analysis, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of seropositivity was 6.0 times higher for animals ≥ 5 years old and 4.0 times higher for spring compared to younger animals and other times of year. Imported animals were 3.1 times more likely to be seropositive than native breeds. This study provides the first seroepidemiological studies on B. besnoiti in Mosul city, Iraq. Older animals, imported breeds, and spring represented considerable risk factors for infection. These findings are crucial in guiding future surveillance and control actions for BB in the region.
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