Epidemiological study of rhinopneumonitis in equidae in Morocco

Abstract

During a serological survey of rhinopneumonitis in Moroccan equids over a five year period (1990 to 1994) 4775 samples (59.6% horses, 18% mules and 22.4% donkeys) were collected in different regions of the country. The overall infection prevalence was 39%. Donkeys (46%) were more affected than mules (42%) and horses (35%). In addition, the seroprevalence increased with age in animals up to three years old in the three species to reach 42% and became stable in older animals. It was not clear whether the gender and the region they lived in predisposed them to the disease. However, maintenance conditions constituted a predisposing factor. After a stabilization period over the first four years, the incidence of the infection suddenly increased in 1994 because of the drought that occurred that year.