serological and molecular detection of brucella spp. infection in the equine population of kerman, iran

Brucellosis is a widespread disease that affects both humans and animals worldwide. it causes significant economic losses and is a public health concern. in horses, this disease often goes unnoticed but can lead to various health issues, such as fistula withers, pollevil, arthritis, synovitis, bursitis, and abortion. the aim of this study was to determine brucella spp. using molecular and serological methods in apparently healthy horse populations in kerman. a total of 100 blood samples were randomly collected from asymptomatic horse farms in kerman province of iran. the rose bengal plate test (rbpt) was performed to detect the presence of brucella-specific antibodies. additionally, conventional and real-time pcr techniques specifically targeting the is711 gene were used to detect the presence of brucella spp. the detection of brucella spp. in all three tests rbpt, conventional pcr, and real-time pcr was 3%. also, the statistical analysis on the obtained data revealed no significant correlation between the incidence of equine brucellosis and various risk factors including age, sex, breed, exposure to other susceptible animals, and herd size. these findings confirm that horses can act as natural hosts for brucella. therefore, it is crucial to prioritize horses as reservoirs of infection and implement screening, control, and prevention programs to eradicate this disease effectively.