Abstract
From October 2010 to May 2011, blood samples were collected from 229 healthy horses from six
different regions of the Central Province of Saudi Arabia. Sera were tested for Neospora spp. antibodies
by a competitive inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed by an indirect
fluorescent antibody test. 23 horses out of 229 (10%) reacted positively to Neospora antibodies in
competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; five of them had ≥50% inhibition. Samples
were confirmed with indirect fluorescence test (IFAT) test and only two samples were positive with final
titers of 50 and 100, while other samples were negative. This study is the first investigation to determine
Neospora spp. in horses from semi arid areas in Saudi Arabia which indicates that horses in Saudi
Arabia are exposed to this parasite.
Key words: Horse, Neospora caninum, competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA),
indirect fluorescence test (IFAT), Saudi Arabia.
Abbreviation
IFAT, Indirect fluorescence test; cELISA,
competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
