Impact of Region and Gender on the Spread of Theileria in Arabian Horses in Northwestern Syria

Abstract

Equine theileriosis is a common parasitic disease affecting horses worldwide; however, its presence in Syria in general, and in the northern regions in particular, remains insufficiently documented. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of Theileria equi infection in Arabian horses according to geographic region and sex, based on a serological survey of blood samples collected from horses in northern Syria within the governorates of Idlib and Aleppo. A total of 110 Arabian horses aged between 2 and 25 years were included. Blood samples were collected from all animals and tested using the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA). Serological testing revealed the presence of antibodies against T. equi in 37% of horses in Idlib and 60% of horses in Aleppo, with a statistically significant difference between the two regions (p<0.05).