Authors
Taha Bia, Diana Marteles-Aragüés, Carmen Sánchez, Lorena Bernardo, Eugenia Carrillo, José Carlos Solana, Hemza Manseur, Houria Zait, Ismail Lafri, Sergio Villanueva-Saz, Javier Moreno
Published in
Research in veterinary science. Volume 211. Pages 106365. Aug 17, 2026. Epub Aug 17, 2026.
Abstract
Leishmaniosis is a parasitic disease caused by obligate intracellular protozoa of the genus Leishmania. It affects humans, canids, and rodents in endemic areas and is transmitted through the bites of infected sand flies. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of equine leishmaniosis in horses from Tiaret Province, northwestern Algeria, an area endemic for canine leishmaniosis, and to identify the main risk factors associated with infection. The study included 75 local Barb horses and employed molecular and serological techniques for the detection of Leishmania infection. Among the sampled animals, 71 tested positive by at least one diagnostic method, corresponding to an overall prevalence of 94.6%. Horses from the southern part of the province were 75% less likely to be infected than those from other areas (odds ratio [OR]: 0.259, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.067-1.004, p < 0.05). These findings provide the first evidence of equine leishmaniosis in northwestern Algeria. Furthermore, the exceptionally high prevalence observed in Tiaret Province suggests intense Leishmania transmission in the area, potentially posing a substantial risk of infection to other susceptible hosts, including humans and dogs. Consequently, the implementation of effective surveillance and control measures is essential to reduce the risk of transmission.
PMID:
42617293
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 20 Aug 2026.
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